By William Jones, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio de Janeiro Museum of Art (MAR) is celebrating its on year anniversary with an exhibition named “Encontro de Mundos” or “Meeting of the Worlds,” which celebrates the rich and diverse art and history of the famous city of Rio de Janeiro.
The exhibition is a celebration of the work that has been on offer in the museum’s first year open to the public. It aims to honor its benefactors with artist Sergio Vega’s vision to combine environmental, culture, music, modern architecture, design, popular traditions and social life of Brazil through technology, as well as celebrate the differences that have made Brazil, and specifically Rio, what it is today.
The curatorial work of MAR is overseen by Paul Herkenhoff, who is also director of the cultural direction of the institution. Besides deciding which exhibitions will be on display, Herkenhoff also works to raise the much-needed funds to subsidize the museum’s collections. Thanks to the efforts of Herkenhoff and his team, the museum now holds a collection of 1,772 books. Of these, 1,700 are the result of Herkenhoff’s efforts.
In a public letter that opened the exhibition, Herkenhoff expressed his thoughts on the exhibition’s meaning. “The didactic dimension Meeting of Worlds is proposed to involve the public in the questions: What is a museum? What can a museum do? What can or should be the museum be?” He also acknowledged the museum’s donors. “The starting point for the MAR is the sensitivity of its donors,” he wrote.
MAR has attracted over 350,000 visitors – a higher figure than expected – throughout its first year. The museum has helped revitalize the city’s Port Zone since it opened last year. The area will also host the currently under construction Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) as part of the ongoing Porto Maravilha project set for completion in 2015.
What: Encontro dos Mundos
When: February 18, 2014 – May 25, 2014; Tuesday: 10AM–7PM, Wednesday–Sunday: 10AM-5PM
Where: Museu de Arte do Rio, Praça Mauá, 5 – Centro
Entrance: R$8 – R$4 and free on Tuesdays
Read more (in Portuguese).
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