Artistic expression often finds its roots in geography, serving as a cultural compass or a geographical reference point. The 2025 São Paulo Biennial is set to showcase how global art is reimagined through a local lens, offering a fresh perspective on internationalism.
The São Paulo Biennial, supported by the Ministry of Culture, the São Paulo State Government, and the Municipal Department of Culture and Creative Economy, aims to enhance its global connections while maintaining a strong local focus. This collaboration seeks to enrich the upcoming edition with a blend of international and local artistic influences.
As the exhibition opens, the Biennial will also introduce its public program, "Conjugations." This initiative includes a series of debates, performances, and collaborative events, developed in partnership with cultural institutions worldwide. These activities will be hosted at the Bienal Pavilion throughout the exhibition's four-month duration.
Global Connections and Local Contexts
The Biennial's initiative aims to explore how cultural institutions from diverse geographies interpret the concept of humanity through their daily practices. Each invited organization will curate an event in São Paulo, bringing together thinkers, artists, and audiences to foster global connections within a local framework. Participating institutions include 32o East (Kampala), Africa Design School (Cotonou), Afrotonizar (Salvador), Ajabu ajabu (Dar es Salaam), blaxTARLINES (Kumasi), and many others from around the world.
Innovative Projects and Experiences
A standout feature of this edition is the "Apparitions" project, a groundbreaking initiative in the Biennial's history, developed in collaboration with the WAVA platform. Utilizing augmented reality, this project allows fragments and echoes of the Biennial's artworks to appear in Ibirapuera Park and other global locations chosen by the artists. These sites include the Congo River banks, the Mexico-U.S. border, and urban parks in São Paulo, among others. Visitors can access these works through an app, creating a unique, location-based sensory experience.
General curator Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung explains, "Conjugating humanity involves creating encounters. Humanity is not just an abstract concept but a practice realized through interactions and exchanges. Both 'Conjugations' and 'Apparitions' exemplify these encounters, activating networks across geographies and making the Biennial a dynamic entity. Like migratory birds, these actions traverse territories, gathering and sharing meanings."
Expanding the Biennial's Reach
The "Conjugations" and "Apparitions" programs not only decentralize the 36th Biennial de São Paulo experience but also expand its curatorial vision, fostering a network of engagement that spans continents.
Andrea Pinheiro, president of the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, expresses her enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to facilitate the creation of unique projects for this Biennial edition. Programs like 'Conjugations' and 'Apparitions' enhance the Biennial's role as a connector, bridging diverse audiences and cultures."
About the 36th Bienal de São Paulo
Curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, with co-curators Alya Sebti, Anna Roberta Goetz, and Thiago de Paula Souza, the 2025 edition draws inspiration from Conceição Evaristo's poem "Da calma e do silêncio" [Of Calm and Silence]. It emphasizes active listening and humanity as a practice of continuous movement and negotiation. This year's Biennial features 120 participants at the Bienal Pavilion and five additional participants at Casa do Povo, co-curated by Benjamin Seroussi and Daniel Blanga-Gubbay.
The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo acknowledges its strategic partner Itaú and master sponsors Bloomberg, Bradesco, Petrobras, Instituto Cultural Vale, Citi, and Vivo. This project is supported by the Culture Incentive Law, the Ministry of Culture, and the Federal Government.
About the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo
Established in 1962, the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to democratizing cultural access and promoting artistic creation. It hosts the Bienal de São Paulo, the largest exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere, and organizes traveling exhibitions across Brazil and internationally. The Foundation also manages significant cultural heritage items, including the Arquivo Histórico Wanda Svevo and the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Additionally, it oversees Brazil's representation at the Venice Biennales of art and architecture, a role granted by the Federal Government in recognition of its cultural contributions.
São Paulo, August 20, 2025 – The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo will open the 36th Bienal de São Paulo – Not All Travellers Walk Roads – Of Humanity as Practice on September 6, offering free admission until January 11, 2026.