bottega veneta honors lina bo bardi, her legacy, and the brazilian culture inside casa de vidro

Lina bo bardi’s casa de vidro sets stage for cultural exhange

Bottega Veneta celebrates the vibrant tapestry of Brazilian culture through a distinctive artistic program and exhibition held at the illustrious Casa de Vidro (Glass House) in São Paulo, designed by the visionary architect Lina Bo Bardi. The event follows in the footsteps of Bottega Veneta’s cultural exchange series, The Square, which debuted in Dubai in 2022 and followed with a second installment in Tokyo.

Led by the fashion house’s Creative Director Matthieu Blazy, the series harmoniously unites artists, guests, and the public in immersive, site-specific events that foster dialogue and curiosity while spotlighting Bottega Veneta’s core values of craftsmanship, creativity, and self-expression. The Square São Paulo doubles as a momentous celebration of Bottega Veneta’s decade-long presence in Brazil. Collaborating with the curator Mari Stockler, the event luxuriates in the verdant splendor of Casa de Vidro, an architectural gem synonymous with Brazilian modernism.

Over the course of eleven days, a convergence of Brazilian artists and their extraordinary artworks pay homage to the rich heritage of the Italian-born Lina Bo Bardi, delving into her profound connection with Brazilian culture and exalting the boundless creativity that thrives throughout Brazil’s artistic landscape. The Square São Paulo is open to the public from May 27th to June 3rd, 2023.

header video by Gabriel Klabin | all exterior and interior photos of the house by Edu Ortega | images courtesy of Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta celebrates Brazilian art, design, and culture

Bottega Veneta’s artistic program inside Lina Bo Bardi’s Casa de Vidro artfully revolves around four crafted pathways, each offering a unique exploration of time, geometry, spirituality, the rebellious spirit of Brazilian counterculture, and the origins of Bossa Nova. Leading visitors on a journey through the magnificent house and enchanting gardens, these pathways culminate in an artist talk, an opportunity to dive into the minds of visionary creators.

To commemorate the occasion, a collection of four limited-edition books, crafted to reflect the essence of The Square’s four thematic pathways, is unveiled in a boxed set. Participating talents in The Square São Paulo include Arnaldo Antunes, Ibã Salles, Vivian Caccuri, Luiz Zerbini, Carlito Carvalhosa, Rosana Paulino, Alaíde Costa, Lenora de Barros, Cristiano Lenhardt, Leda Catunda, Ricardo Aleixo, and João Camarero. The event will also feature works by Lygia Pape, Hélio Oiticica, Augusto de Campos, Mestre Guarany, Surubim Feliciano da Paixão – as well as Bo Bardi’s own work, writings, and original furnishings in Casa de Vidro.

the Square São Paulo cultural exchange celebrates Bottega Veneta’s decade-long presence in Brazil

Diving into lina bo bardi’s legacy and revolutionary thinking

Lina Bo Bardi, hailing from Rome, Italy, embraced Brazil as her newfound home in 1946, ultimately emerging as one of the most revered and influential figures in Brazilian modernism. With a dedication to social design and architecture, Bo Bardi spearheaded groundbreaking projects, including the renowned Museu de Arte de São Paulo and the iconic leisure center, SESC Pompéia.

Casa de Vidro, Bo Bardi’s inaugural architectural masterpiece and sanctuary until her passing in 1992, served as a meeting place for luminaries in the realms of art, architecture, and intellectual discourse during her lifetime. Today, under the stewardship of the esteemed Instituto Bardi / Casa de Vidro, the historical space and architecture continue to be a beacon of inspiration that perpetuate Bo Bardi’s remarkable legacy in the creative industries.

‘From the modernist project to her embrace of the power of Brazilian popular culture and collaboration with the counterculture, Lina challenged norms and developed ideas that crossed chronological time like arrows and are, today, an essential perspective of Brazilian identity,’ says curator Mari Stockler. ‘With The Square São Paulo, we dive into her revolutionary thinking. The event is designed as a dialogue. We provoke time by contrasting Lina’s objects with works by modern and contemporary artists in an exchange between past, present, and possible futures.’

Bo Bardi’s own work, writings, and original furnishings housed in Casa de Vidro are on display | photo by João Rodrigues