Construções Sensíveis

The exhibition Construções Sensíveis: The Latin-American Geometric Experiencefrom the Ella Fontanals-Cisneros collection brings to Brazil a comprehensive view of abstraction across our continent. It showcases the significant legacy of Brazilian concretism and neo-concretism alongside the abstract poetics that emerged in various countries starting in the 1930s. This exploration highlights Brazil’s contributions to geometric art within a broader regional context rather than as an isolated phenomenon.

This exhibition fosters a dialogue among artists and movements from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico. Even when historical connections between artists are not evident, a shared understanding rooted in constructivism unites their work. The “constructive desire” that motivates these artists informs each group's unique perspectives. From the nucleus formed in Uruguay around Joaquín Torres-García and his exchanges with the Argentine Madi group, through visual explorations of optical art and kinetics, to the diverse expressions of concretism, the works collectively illustrate the varied paths taken by these artists.

Designed specifically for Brazil, this exhibition pays subtle homage to Arte Agora III: América Latina: Geometrica sensível, held at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro in 1978, which was tragically lost to a fire. Many artists featured in that seminal event are represented here, alongside contemporary figures shaping the future of abstraction.