Museu Brasileiro da Escultura, Art museum in Jardim Europa, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Museu Brasileiro da Escultura is an art museum in São Paulo built mostly below street level, surrounded by a landscaped garden. Inside, three exhibition halls are dedicated to three-dimensional works, while additional pieces are placed outdoors throughout the grounds.
In 1987, during Jânio Quadros's administration, the city granted the 7,000-square-metre plot on Avenida Europa to the Sociedade de Amigos dos Museus for 99 years, on condition that it become a cultural facility. The mobilization was led by artist Marilisa Rathsam with the Sociedade dos Amigos do Jardim Europa, to block a shopping centre. Paulo Mendes da Rocha's design was chosen in a closed competition and construction began in 1988, taking eight years and largely funded by private donations. The museum opened in May 1995 with an exhibition of 140 works by Victor Brecheret.
The name refers to Brazilian sculpture, but works by artists from other countries are also on display alongside local creators. Visitors can walk among outdoor sculptures placed throughout the garden, experiencing the works without barriers or guided routes.
The museum is located in a residential part of the Jardim Europa neighborhood and can be reached on foot from nearby streets. The garden paths and the split-level interior mean that comfortable shoes make the visit easier.
The garden was designed by Roberto Burle Marx, who is also known for the Copacabana boardwalk in Rio de Janeiro. His design here places plants, water, and sculpture together so that the outdoor space reads as an extension of the exhibition inside.
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