Sao Paulo, MASP

FROM APRIL 20 TO JULY 10, 2011

The exhibition opens its doors to visitors at street level. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a huge mosaic of faces that has become the symbol of the project. Composed of thousands of faces, this video exhibit allows visitors to follow the testimonies of hundreds of people. 

The visitor is surrounded by this video display featured on four enormous screens (20m x 10m). While thus surrounded by these testimonies, visitors move slowly, turning often, as their attention is caught by some of the portraits which grow larger and begin to talk. Witnessing their laughter, their dreams, their fears and their joys..., is a moving experience.

The visitor may continue and view the "Messages" movie. This 9-screen audiovisual system focuses on the last question of the interview: "There are 7 billion of us on Planet Earth. What message would you like to share with the Others?” These messages are sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing, sometimes sad, but always touching and moving…

After the entry vestibule and the mosaic, the visitor can get a bird's eye view of the "yurt village" by taking the main staircase. A yurt is a traditional tent dwelling used by nomadic Mongolian people. Circular in shape, it symbolizes togetherness, and is a place where people meet and engage in dialogue. The set design is a reproduction of the set of the Grand Palais exhibition, created by Guy-Claude François and Scène agency. Note that the visitor can thus discover all the themes tackled by the 7 billion Others project.

The visitor may then wish to take a look behind the scenes of the project. Details of work underlying 5 years of filming are thus brought into the limelight! How did the reporters meet the interviewees? How does an interview for the 7 billion Others take place? What is the role of the translator? Etc., etc.

Later on, the visitor himself may actually take part in the project, just like the 6,000 interviewees. In fact, the visitor may record his own answers to the 45 questions of the interview either via web cam or in writing, using one of the three computers available at the exhibition.


7 BILLION OTHERS IN BRAZIL

After the exhibitions in France, Italy, China, Denmark, Korea, Burma and Belgium: “6 Billion Others” is happy to make its first appearance on the American continent!

After we interviewed more than 100 Brazilians during the filming years, we are delighted to share the testimonies of the 7 billion Others with the people of Brazil. And in Brazil, what symbol could be more beautiful than Sao Paulo itself? A city of multicultural coexistence and encounters, if ever there was one… A city of culture and events… A city of exchanges and dialogue… We are happy to have the opportunity to present these messages and testimonials to the people of Sao Paolo.

Listen, learn, share. This is the goal of the 7 billion Others project. We hope this becomes a reality for you!


THE PRESTIGIOUS SETTING OF THE MASP

The Assis Chateaubriand Museum of Art of Sao Paulo (in Portuguese Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand) or MASP, is located on Paulista Avenue facing the Trianon Park in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil One of the most important cultural centers of the country, the museum is known for its daring Brutalist architecture, and has become one of the landmarks of the city.

Operating as a private non-profit institution, the museum is renowned for the extraordinary art collection it has acquired since its establishment in 1947. Having earned worldwide recognition for its quality and diversity, the MASP collection is considered the most important collection of Western art in South America, with works ranging from classical antiquity to contemporary art. The museum has occupied its present site since 1968, in a building designed by Lina Bo Bardi.

The Sao Paulo Museum of Art has the largest and most comprehensive collection of Western art in Latin America and the entire southern hemisphere. With more than eight thousand works, the museum collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, and European decorative arts from the 13th century to the present. The MASP is a must for all visitors to Sao Paulo, Brazil.


A NEW FILM : "WE ARE SAO PAULO"

On this occasion, the 7 billion Others team invited filmmakers and Kika Nicolela and Lucas Bambozzi to make a movie exclusively on the people of Sao Paulo: "Somos São Paulo" (We Are Sao Paulo), which is about the issues of human mobility, emigration and migrations. Here are the teaser and the film, in Portuguese with subtitles in English:

PARTNERS OF THE EXHIBITION



7 billion Others would never have seen the light of day, nor would it have enjoyed such impressive successe, were it not for the full, ongoing support of BNP Paribas.

The 7 billion Others exhibition was produced in partnership with the BNP Paribas Group in Brazil. The 7 billion Others team wishes to thank Mr Bazire and his team, and particularly Ms Claudia Melo and her team : Fernanda Costa, Jessé Silva e Ilídio Marques.



The production of the exhibition was managed by Performas. The organization of the exhibition at the MASP in Sao Paolo from 20 April to 10 July was made possible by the involvement, generosity and professionalism of Andrea Caruso Saturnino and his team: Carol Bucek, Osvaldo Piva, Claudia Alcantara, Maria Angela Caruso, Hitoshi Nizhimoto, Fábio Cesnik and Flávia Manso.

The team of 7 billion Others and Performas Produções Artísticas e Socioculturais is thankful to their partners:



The MASP that welcomes us in this prestigious area. In particular Mr João Azevedo, Mr Teixeira Coelho, Mr Fernando Pinho, Mrs Marcela Tokiwa, Mr Paulo Alves, Mr Fabiana Baêta, Mr Paulo Portella, Mrs Renata Toledo Geo, Mrs Zildete Mesquita and Mrs Débora Lauand.

     

Rede Globo São Paulo, Canal Futura, Folha, UOL and CBN which gave us the honor to colaborate with the media, showing the project to a maximum of people.

     

E-BOP and FUTURE Lab which took care of the digital media and social networks.



101T which offered us the sofa of the living area.



This project in Brazil was made ​possible in part with funds from Rouane Lawt, through the Ministry of Culture. We thank their teams for their fundamental support.