See the Niemeyer-designed Sao Paulo Museum Memorial da America Latina!

If you like the look of concrete austerity, the Sao Paulo Museum Memorial da America Latina is certainly the art museum for you. Designed by famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, the memorial is the best place to see Brazilian modernism in all its glory. The memorial monument is a little unusual in its construction – it consists of an enormous concrete field with immaculate geometric, concrete pavilions surrounding the edges which were originally painted a blinding white.

The concept of the Sao Paulo Museum Memorial da America Latina was to create a monument that celebrated the artistic and scientific creations of Latin America – as well as to remember the contributions made to Brazilian solidarity by those who helped to found the country and built it up into what it is today. The monument serves as a reminder for the corporate creativity of Brazil and Latin America, and the institute associated with it funds research and development in both the sciences and the arts, as well as spreading awareness of Latin American history throughout the various countries.

When visiting the museum, you have to enter each pavilion separately since they each have a different focus. The Marta Trata Gallery features temporary exhibits from Latin American artists, and you can find similar displays in the Arts Room, such as the Tiradentes Panel by Candido Portinari. The centerpiece of the whole Memorial though is the large, concrete hand in the center of the concrete plaza – the palm of the hand is incised with a map of Latin America in blood red.

First opened in 1989, the Sao Paulo Museum Memorial da America Latina consists of plenty more than just galleries – there is also an extensive library, a separate museum area, a theatre, murals, a restaurant, and surrounding décor that reflects Latin American traditions and values. While some people may find the modernist slant to be a bit off-putting, the truth is that this museum is about as unique as they come – and is certainly a testament to the artistic diversity of Latin America as a whole. In fact, the actual memorial building here is the Latin-American parliament’s headquarters, otherwise called Parlatino.

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