Varejão and Paulino Expose Brazil's 'Poisoned Beauty' at Venice Biennale
At the 2026 Venice Biennale, Brazilian artists Adriana Varejão and Rosana Paulino present a powerful joint exhibition in the Brazilian Pavilion, curated by Diane Lima. The installation explores the concept of Brazil's "poisoned beauty," revealing the underlying violence and historical trauma concealed beneath the nation's baroque aesthetic and modern facade. Varejão contributes ceiling paintings resembling cracked tiles with falling angels, symbolizing impending doom and the fragility of societal structures. Her work often exposes visceral imagery like blood and flesh beneath polished surfaces. Paulino complements this with installations featuring cement walls and images of enslaved individuals, highlighting the enduring legacy of colonial massacres. Toxic plants growing within the restored pavilion serve as metaphors for hidden dangers and protection against evil. The exhibition portrays Brazil as a country of stark contrasts, where past atrocities are not buried but constantly resurface. This presentation is noted as one of the strongest Brazilian representations in recent years, using art to critique the nation's foundational violence and its continuous impact on contemporary identity amidst global political tensions.
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Varejão and Paulino Expose Brazil's 'Poisoned Beauty' at Venice Biennale
At the 2026 Venice Biennale, Brazilian artists Adriana Varejão and Rosana Paulino present a powerful joint exhibition in the Brazilian Pavilion, curated by Diane Lima. The installation explores the concept of Brazil's "poisoned beauty," revealing the underlying violence and historical trauma concealed beneath the nation's baroque aesthetic and modern facade. Varejão contributes ceiling paintings resembling cracked tiles with falling angels, symbolizing impending doom and the fragility of societal structures. Her work often exposes visceral imagery like blood and flesh beneath polished surfaces. Paulino complements this with installations featuring cement walls and images of enslaved individuals, highlighting the enduring legacy of colonial massacres. Toxic plants growing within the restored pavilion serve as metaphors for hidden dangers and protection against evil. The exhibition portrays Brazil as a country of stark contrasts, where past atrocities are not buried but constantly resurface. This presentation is noted as one of the strongest Brazilian representations in recent years, using art to critique the nation's foundational violence and its continuous impact on contemporary identity amidst global political tensions.