VIVA VIVA ESCOLA VIVA EXHIBITION
Casa França Brasil, Rio de Janeiro
2 December 2023 - 28 January 2024
Between December 2nd 2023 and January 28th 2024, Selvagem, a cycle of studies on life celebrated the Living Schools with a major exhibition of arts and medicines at Casa França-Brasil in the centre of Rio de Janeiro.
VIVA VIVA ESCOLA VIVA opened on December 2nd with the first major gathering, mediated by Cristine Takuá, of representatives (artists, teachers, shamans, and masters) who lead the 5 centers for the transmission of traditional knowledge that make up the Living Schools project, from the MAXAKALI, HUNI KUÏ, TUKANO, and GUARANI peoples – including the participation of the BANIWA Living School, established in 2024.
Between December 2nd 2023 and January 28th 2024, Selvagem, a cycle of studies on life celebrated the Living Schools with a major exhibition of arts and medicines at Casa França-Brasil in the centre of Rio de Janeiro.
VIVA VIVA ESCOLA VIVA opened on December 2nd with the first major gathering, mediated by Cristine Takuá, of representatives (artists, teachers, shamans, and masters) who lead the 5 centers for the transmission of traditional knowledge that make up the Living Schools project, from the MAXAKALI, HUNI KUÏ, TUKANO, and GUARANI peoples – including the participation of the BANIWA Living School, established in 2024.
The exhibition featured over 100 works , including Maxakali paintings and drawings, Baniwa watercolors, a Huni Kuï beaded panel and a teacher cloth, baskets, wooden animals, a cartography of Nhe’ërÿ – a large map of the Atlantic Forest painted by young Guarani artists – a painting by Ailton Krenak, and an Amazonian Living Pharmacy organized by the Bahserikowi Indigenous Medicine Center, which brought medicinal preparations from the Tukano and Desana peoples.
During almost two months of activities, celebrations, an open exhibition, 19.530 visitors toured the space.
On December 4, the Living Ways of Knowing Seminartook place, aimed at educators and people interested in researching what schools are, thinking about sensitive learning, the relationship between living beings, and ways for education to include more pluriversal narratives.
The exhibition was open for visitation from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10 AM to 5 PM, with free entry. A team of mediators from the Selvagem Community was present throughout the exhibition to welcome each visitor.
The Children Group of the Selvagem Community held a series of 5 meetings in the Children’s Maloca, one of the exhibition spaces. Coordinated by Veronica Pinheiro, workshops were offered for children on December 2, 9, and 16, 2023, and January 13 and 24, 2024.
On January 13 2024, Izabel Stewart presented her scenic work Solo da Cana Solo da Cana at Casa França-Brasil, as part of the exhibition's program. Learn more in A CANA EM CENA, an article shared on ARCA Selvagem.
On January 24, 2024, we had a guided tour of the exhibition with Anna Dantes, Cristine Takuá, Leda Maria Martins, and Viviane Kruel. Learn more in UMA CIRANDA ENTRE MEMÓRIAS, on ARCA Selvagem.
On January 26, 2024, we released the film LONG LIVE THE LIVING SCHOOLS, offering a tour of the exhibition. It shares excerpts from the celebration of the first meeting of the Living Schools.
On January 29, the catalogue LONG LIVE THE LIVING SCHOOLS, was published, featuring texts and works from the exhibition and links to other materials produced in collaboration between Selvagem and the Living Schools.
CATALOGUE
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos: Clara Almeida
CHILDREN’S MALOCA
VIVA VIVA ESCOLA VIVA also featured a special program of workshops held in the Children’s Maloca, within the Casa França-Brasil space, with immersions in colors, sounds, shapes, and myths.
The exhibition featured 5 meetings conducted by the Selvagem Children’s Group in collaboration with invited artist-educators. The activities integrated references and life movements from the VIVA VIVA ESCOLA VIVA exhibition through storytelling, guided tours of the exhibition, and workshops.
The group’s coordination is by Veronica Pinheiro, a member of the Selvagem team. Veronica is a playful practitioner, a teacher in the Municipal Public Network of Rio de Janeiro, and a researcher of art teaching for ethnic-racial relations as a master's student in the Postgraduate Program in Arts at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
ABOUT THE LIVING SCHOOLS
Indigenous projects to strengthen and pass on their traditional knowledge.
The experience of working and articulating with the immense wisdom of Indigenous peoples gave rise to Selvagem, a cycle of studies on life. Therefore, as an expression of our gratitude, since 2022, we have been maintaining the financial support of the Living Schools, raising funds that guarantee R$8,000.00 per month for each project. The action is in partnership with Saúva, a non-profit association that receives and forwards donations made by individuals and institutions to the supported projects.
The Living Schools initiative is coordinated by Cristine Takuá, a Maxakali educator, mother, midwife, thinker, who has lived in the Rio Silveira Indigenous Land of the Guarani-Mbya people for 20 years with her partner Carlos Papá Porã Mirim and their children Kauê and Djeguaká. Cris Takuá takes care of the dialogue with the projects and shares in quarterly reports the experiences of the Living Schools Shubu Hiwea, Huni Kuï; Aldeia Escola Floresta, Maxakali; Mbya Arandu Porã, Guarani Mbya; Bahserikowi, Tukano-Desana-Tuyuka, and Wanheke Ipanana Wha Walimanai, Baniwa Living School.
In 2024, a new Living School will join the initiative, a Baniwa one. We're also going to guarantee the organisation of workshops, a demand common to all the projects.
Visit the page to support or learn more.