Brazil’s Hassis Foundation Opens Free Interactive Art Show
Florianópolis · Culture & Lifestyle
Key Facts
—Exhibition. “Hassis Brincante” is a fully interactive show at the Hassis Foundation in Florianópolis.
—Dates. The exhibition runs from 25 July 2025 to 30 January 2027.
—Format. Seven interactive stations form a sensory pathway through the artist’s poetic universe.
—Admission. Entry is free for all visitors.
—Location. Fundação Hassis, Rua Luiz da Costa Freysleben, 87, Itaguaçu, Florianópolis.
The Hassis Foundation exhibition “Hassis Brincante” brings an unprecedented interactive art experience to Florianópolis, inviting visitors to step inside the creative world of one of Santa Catarina’s most celebrated artists.
A Sensory Journey Through the Hassis Foundation Exhibition
The Hassis Foundation has opened its doors to a show unlike any it has mounted before. “Hassis Brincante” transforms the traditional gallery visit into a participatory, hands-on encounter with art.
Curators designed seven interactive stations as sensitive interpretations of recurring themes in Hassis’s work. Visitors do not simply look at paintings; they touch, build, imagine, and create their own memories inside the artist’s poetic universe.
The exhibition is part of the “Hassis 100 Anos” centennial programme. It marks the artist’s 100th birthday with a fresh, accessible format aimed at audiences of all ages.
In practical terms, an interactive station can mean anything from a tactile sculpture table where visitors rearrange forms, to a digital projection that responds to movement. The goal is to translate the artist’s visual language into experiences that do not depend on prior knowledge of art history. For families with young children, this approach removes the quiet, look-but-don’t-touch tension that can make traditional museums feel unwelcoming.
The sensory pathway also reflects a broader global shift in museology. Institutions from São Paulo to London have been rethinking the passive viewer model, recognising that engagement deepens when the body is involved alongside the eye.
Who Was Hassis and Why His Legacy Matters Now
Hassis, born Hiedy de Assis Corrêa in 1926, is a foundational figure in Santa Catarina’s modern art history. His work spans painting, drawing, and muralism, often depicting the island life, folklore, and human figures of Florianópolis.
The Hassis Foundation, established to preserve his legacy, houses a permanent collection that draws researchers and art lovers year-round. This new exhibition repositions that legacy for a generation that expects participation, not passive observation.
For the city, the centennial reinforces Florianópolis’s cultural capital at a time when quality-of-life factors increasingly drive relocation and investment decisions. A vibrant arts scene is a measurable asset in the competition for talent and tourism spending.
Understanding Hassis also means understanding the visual identity of Santa Catarina itself. His murals appear in public buildings across the state, and his stylised depictions of fishermen, lacemakers, and local legends helped codify a regional aesthetic that still influences contemporary designers working in the island capital today.
The Investment Read-Through: Culture as Infrastructure
Free, long-running cultural programming of this calibre signals a city that invests in soft infrastructure. For expats and remote workers considering Florianópolis, accessible arts offerings are a genuine pull factor.
The exhibition runs for eighteen months, giving it staying power beyond a typical seasonal show. That extended window makes it a reliable anchor for neighbourhood foot traffic in Itaguaçu, a continental district that has seen steady residential growth.
Local businesses near the foundation stand to benefit from increased weekend visits. The Saturday hours, in particular, align with family outings and the growing domestic tourism market within Santa Catarina state.
Soft infrastructure is a term urban planners use for the services and amenities that make a place liveable rather than merely functional. Parks, libraries, and free museums fall into this category. When a city the size of Florianópolis commits to an eighteen-month exhibition with no admission fee, it is making a calculated bet that cultural richness will pay dividends in resident satisfaction and visitor spending that far outstrip the operational cost.
Practical Details for Visitors and Expats
The Hassis Foundation is located at Rua Luiz da Costa Freysleben, 87, in the Itaguaçu neighbourhood. It operates Monday through Friday from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Admission is completely free, removing any financial barrier for repeat visits. The interactive stations are designed for both Portuguese and non-Portuguese speakers, relying on sensory engagement rather than text-heavy interpretation.
Visitors can combine the trip with the other major Hassis centennial exhibition, “Entre o Instante e a Eternidade,” at the Palácio Cruz e Sousa in central Florianópolis. Together they offer a full-day cultural itinerary that spans the island and the continent.
Itaguaçu sits on the mainland side of the bay, connected to the island by the Colombo Salles and Pedro Ivo bridges. For those staying in the popular beach districts like Lagoa da Conceição or Campeche, the drive across the water takes roughly twenty to thirty minutes outside peak traffic. Public bus lines also serve the route, making the foundation reachable without a car.
What the Hassis Foundation Exhibition Means for Florianópolis
Florianópolis has long marketed itself on natural beauty and tech-sector growth. Cultural depth is the third leg of the stool that supports long-term expat retention and upscale tourism.
The Hassis Foundation exhibition demonstrates that the city’s cultural institutions can deliver programming that meets international standards of interactivity and accessibility. That matters when professionals compare Florianópolis against other Latin American hubs like Medellín or Mexico City.
The centennial programme also underscores the role of private foundations in Brazil’s cultural ecosystem. With public arts budgets often stretched thin, well-managed private institutions fill gaps and drive innovation in audience engagement.
One open question is whether the interactive format will attract repeat local visitors or remain a one-time novelty. Another is how the foundation will measure success beyond headcount, perhaps through visitor surveys or community partnerships that track longer-term shifts in cultural participation across the metropolitan region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Hassis Brincante” exhibition at the Hassis Foundation?
“Hassis Brincante” is a fully interactive exhibition at the Fundação Hassis in Florianópolis. It features seven sensory stations that invite visitors to engage actively with the themes and imagery of artist Hassis’s work, rather than simply viewing static artworks.
The show is part of the “Hassis 100 Anos” centennial celebrations.
How long does the Hassis Foundation interactive exhibition run?
The exhibition opens on 25 July 2025 and runs through 30 January 2027. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Entry is free throughout the entire run.
Where is the Hassis Foundation located in Florianópolis?
The Fundação Hassis is at Rua Luiz da Costa Freysleben, 87, in the Itaguaçu neighbourhood on the continental side of Florianópolis. It houses the permanent Museu Hassis collection alongside temporary exhibitions.
The location is easily reached by car or public transport from both the island and mainland areas of the city.
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