Latin America's premier visual arts exhibition that promotes cultural integration through contemporary art, while fostering educational access and civic engagement in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The Mercosul Visual Arts Biennial, established in 1996, stands as one of Latin America's most significant contemporary art events, bringing together artists, curators, and audiences in Porto Alegre, the capital city of Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul. Created with the vision of promoting integration between countries in the Mercosul region (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Venezuela), the Biennial has evolved into a platform that both celebrates Latin American artistic expressions and engages with global contemporary art dialogues.
Unlike many other biennials worldwide, the Mercosul Biennial distinguishes itself through its strong educational focus and commitment to social responsibility. A substantial portion of its resources is dedicated to educational initiatives that make contemporary art accessible to diverse audiences, particularly school students. This emphasis on pedagogy has made the Biennial renowned not only for its exhibitions but also for its innovative approaches to art education and public engagement.
Through its history spanning over 14 editions, the Mercosul Biennial has consistently worked to legitimize Latin American artistic identities on the global stage while fostering cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. The event transforms Porto Alegre into a vibrant hub of artistic activity, utilizing multiple venues across the city from museums and cultural centers to repurposed industrial spaces and public areas, creating a comprehensive cultural experience that extends beyond traditional exhibition formats.
The origins of the Mercosul Biennial can be traced back to the early 1990s, a period when Latin American countries were forming new economic alliances and cultural identities following decades of dictatorships and political instability. The concept for the Biennial emerged in 1994 when cultural producer Maria Benites Moreno developed a draft for a "Southern Cone Biennial" aimed at giving visibility to Latin American art. Simultaneously, a group of artists from Porto Alegre were discussing possibilities for artistic exchanges within the region.
The initiative gained momentum when presented to the state government of Rio Grande do Sul, resulting in the formation of a technical commission in 1995 to formulate an initial proposal. In 1996, the Mercosul Visual Arts Biennial Foundation was established as a private, non-profit organization with businessman and collector Justo Werlang as its first president. The inaugural edition took place in September 1997, coinciding with the implementation of a cultural incentive law by the state government that helped secure funding for the event.
From its first edition, the Biennial sought to create a distinct identity in the international art world by focusing specifically on Latin American art and fostering integration between Mercosul countries. Over time, the scope expanded to include artists from around the world while maintaining its core mission of highlighting Latin American artistic production. Each edition has been led by different curatorial teams, bringing fresh perspectives and thematic explorations to the event.
A significant evolution in the Biennial's approach occurred during its 6th edition in 2007 with the creation of the position of Pedagogical Curator, held initially by renowned artist and educator Luis Camnitzer. This formalized the Biennial's already strong commitment to education, establishing it as an essential component equal in importance to the exhibition program. The pedagogical innovations developed in Porto Alegre have since influenced art education practices both in Brazil and internationally.
Initial concept developed by Maria Benites Moreno and a group of local artists; technical commission formed
Establishment of the Mercosul Visual Arts Biennial Foundation as a private, non-profit organization
Inaugural edition opens in Porto Alegre, establishing the foundation for future editions
6th edition introduces the position of Pedagogical Curator, formalizing the Biennial's educational focus
9th edition titled "Weather Permitting" expands thematic scope to explore ecological and technological dimensions
14th edition themed "Estalo" (Snap) scheduled after postponement due to devastating floods in Southern Brazil
Throughout its history, the Mercosul Biennial has explored a wide range of thematic concerns that reflect both regional perspectives and global dialogues. Each edition's curatorial approach has contributed to an evolving understanding of Latin American art's relationship to broader artistic, social, and political contexts.
Latin American Integration - Early editions focused strongly on creating platforms for dialogue between artists from Mercosul countries, examining shared cultural identities and histories while challenging Eurocentric art narratives. This emphasis on regional integration remains foundational to the Biennial's mission, even as its scope has expanded globally.
Educational Innovation - A consistent theme across all editions has been the exploration of innovative pedagogical approaches to contemporary art. The Biennial has pioneered methods of audience engagement that move beyond traditional educational models, treating exhibition visitors not merely as passive spectators but as active participants in knowledge creation.
Nature, Technology, and Society - Several recent editions have investigated the intersections between natural phenomena, technological developments, and social structures. These explorations reflect growing ecological concerns while examining how art can respond to rapidly changing environmental conditions and technological landscapes.
"Weather Permitting" (2013) - The 9th edition, curated by Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, used weather as both a literal and metaphorical framework to explore unpredictable phenomena across natural, technological, and social domains. This edition examined how artists address the unknown and uncontrollable, creating connections between environmental conditions and political "climates."
"The Atlantic Triangle" (2018) - The 11th edition focused on the historical and contemporary connections between Africa, the Americas, and Europe, highlighting particularly the African and Afro-Brazilian artistic contributions often marginalized in art historical narratives. This theme addressed the complex legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and its continuing influence on cultural production.
"Estalo" (Snap) (2025) - The upcoming 14th edition explores the concept of sudden transformation—the instantaneous shifts that occur in nature, in bodies, and in societies. This theme examines how seemingly small changes can trigger significant metamorphoses, reflecting a world characterized by rapid transitions and instability.
These evolving thematic approaches demonstrate the Mercosul Biennial's responsiveness to changing artistic, social, and environmental conditions while maintaining its commitment to fostering dialogue between different cultural contexts and perspectives. By addressing both local concerns and global challenges, the Biennial creates spaces for critical reflection on contemporary realities and possible futures.
The Mercosul Biennial transforms Porto Alegre's urban landscape by activating multiple venues across the city, from established cultural institutions to repurposed industrial spaces and public areas. This distributed approach encourages exploration of different neighborhoods while highlighting the city's architectural and cultural diversity.
A former power station converted into a cultural center, providing dramatic, industrial spaces ideal for large-scale contemporary art installations and serving as one of the Biennial's principal venues since its early editions.
The state's primary art museum, housed in a historic building in the city center, offers more traditional gallery spaces that create interesting dialogues between contemporary interventions and institutional contexts.
A cultural center in a historic bank building that provides elegant exhibition spaces in the heart of the city, frequently hosting some of the Biennial's most significant presentations.
The state's contemporary art museum offers spaces specifically designed for current artistic practices, serving as an important venue for exhibitions that engage with cutting-edge contemporary work.
For the upcoming 14th edition, the Biennial is expanding into new territories, reaching beyond traditional cultural districts to engage with diverse communities across the city:
This distributed approach across 18 different spaces for the 14th edition demonstrates the Biennial's commitment to democratizing access to contemporary art by bringing exhibitions to where people live, work, and gather. By activating both established cultural institutions and non-traditional spaces, the Mercosul Biennial weaves itself into the urban fabric of Porto Alegre, creating multiple points of encounter between art and everyday life.
The Mercosul Biennial's distinctive identity in the international biennial landscape is largely defined by its pioneering approach to art education and audience engagement. Rather than treating education as a secondary function, the Biennial places pedagogical initiatives at the core of its mission, developing innovative methodologies that have influenced educational practices in cultural institutions around the world.
At the heart of the Biennial's educational approach is its comprehensive mediator program, which has trained over 1,680 young people since its inception. These mediators—primarily university students from diverse fields—receive extensive preparation before each edition, equipping them not simply to explain artworks but to facilitate meaningful dialogue and exchange between visitors and artistic projects.
Unlike conventional museum guides, Mercosul Biennial mediators are positioned as "transcreators" and cultural producers in their own right, generating knowledge through their interactions with both artists and audiences. This approach transforms the traditional hierarchical model of art education into a more horizontal exchange of ideas and experiences.
Since 2007, each edition of the Biennial has included a dedicated Pedagogical Curator who works alongside the artistic team to develop educational frameworks and activities. Notable figures who have held this position include:
For the 14th edition, the educational program will include seminars, discussion groups, training courses for teachers and mediators, and specialized educational materials developed by educators and researchers, continuing the Biennial's tradition of pedagogical innovation.
Beyond formal educational programs, the Biennial has developed various strategies to engage diverse audiences:
Through these multifaceted approaches to education and public engagement, the Mercosul Biennial has repositioned itself as more than just an exhibition of art objects—it functions as a temporary school, a laboratory for pedagogical experimentation, and a platform for collective knowledge production. This commitment to education as a transformative practice aligns with the Biennial's broader social mission, using contemporary art as a vehicle for fostering critical thinking and civic participation.
The 14th Mercosul Biennial, themed "Estalo" (Snap), is scheduled to take place from March 27 to June 1, 2025, in Porto Alegre. Originally planned for 2024, the exhibition was postponed due to devastating floods that affected Southern Brazil, causing significant damage to infrastructure and cultural venues throughout the region.
Led by chief curator Raphael Fonseca, alongside adjunct curators Tiago Sant'Ana and Yina Jimenez Suriel, the 14th edition explores the concept of sudden transformation—the instantaneous shifts that occur in bodies, nature, and societies. The Portuguese word "estalo" refers not only to the sound of a snap but encompasses a broader range of meanings related to sudden movements that change the state of different materials and potentially generate sounds.
This conceptual framework invites reflection on how seemingly small movements can trigger significant metamorphoses, from subtle internal bodily changes to dramatic societal shifts. The exhibition examines transformation as an inherent aspect of living, acknowledging that existence itself involves constant change and instability.
The exhibition will feature 76 artists from diverse geographical backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on creators from Latin America and Asia. Selected artists include both established figures and emerging talents, many of whom will produce commissioned works specifically for the Biennial.
Creating commissioned work that explores gender, identity, and geometric abstraction through playful, vibrant installations and paintings.
A deaf artist whose work explores the materiality of sound and its social implications through drawings, performances, and multimedia installations.
Known for intricate textile works that weave together personal narratives, historical references, and cultural commentary through vibrant tapestries.
An architect whose distinctive "Neo-Andean" style draws on indigenous Aymara aesthetics to create vibrant, geometric architectural forms.
The 14th edition represents the most ambitious geographical reach in the Biennial's history, with exhibitions spread across 18 different venues throughout Porto Alegre and neighboring areas. This expanded format aims to reach more diverse audiences by bringing contemporary art to both traditional cultural institutions and spaces embedded in everyday urban life.
In addition to the main exhibitions, the Biennial will include:
Through this multifaceted approach, the 14th Mercosul Biennial aims not only to present contemporary art but to catalyze broader cultural engagement throughout the city, contributing to Porto Alegre's recovery from recent natural disasters while maintaining the Biennial's commitment to educational access and social impact.
Explore the atmosphere and impact of the Mercosul Biennial through this video showcase of exhibitions, installations, and the vibrant cultural context of Porto Alegre.
Explore critical perspectives and insights on the Mercosul Biennial through these selected articles from leading art publications and critics.
An examination of how the Biennial's innovative educational approach has influenced contemporary art institutions worldwide, positioning education as a central rather than peripheral function.
Analysis of how the Biennial has challenged Eurocentrism and created platforms for Latin American artistic expressions while fostering dialogue with global contemporary art practices.
Exploration of how the postponement and reimagining of the 14th edition following devastating floods reflects the Biennial's engagement with environmental challenges and urban transformation.
The Mercosul Biennial takes place across multiple venues throughout Porto Alegre, Brazil, with major exhibition sites concentrated in the city center and extending to various neighborhoods and surrounding areas.