Exhibition “Bioacoustic Geopropolis”, by João Machado

O Funarte Cultural Complex, located in the Campos Elíseos neighborhood, in São Paulo, opens the exhibition “Bioacoustic Geopropolis”, an interspecies art exhibition focused on the sounds of bees. The project, selected through the Funarte Aberta 2023 Call for Proposals, has free admission and presents the new research of João Machado, a visual artist and activist in defense of native Brazilian bees, curated by Arasy Benítez.

“Geoprópolis Bioacústico” debuts with the performance of “Zumbido”, a pioneering artistic research work on the noises produced within swarms, where João captures the sounds of these small beings live and performs sound experiments in partnership with musician Daniel Magnani – followed by a chat with the artists, the curator and the audience.

The exhibition is open to all ages and can be visited daily until November 3rd.

The highlight is the bioacoustic sculpture, a kind of ceramic and metal speaker that resembles a trumpet. From there, the different sounds captured by the artist in the approximately 50 swarms of native bees cultivated by him in the Serra da Mantiqueira, in Bocaina de Minas (MG), are amplified and emitted.

“The sculptures will produce sounds that have never been heard before, some even outside the frequency of human hearing. Some sound like the buzzing of mosquitoes, others are reminiscent of the sound of the video game we played as children, but the sound is different. It’s something we’re not used to hearing,” explains João.

The exhibition also includes a video installation that will transmit images captured inside and outside a beehive. The videos reveal not only the movements and activities of the bees but also the surprising architecture they create, which may resemble the inside of the human body.

In another video, we learn about the “Casa Mirim”, a house designed to be inhabited by humans and bees.

The exhibition also features a 4m x 1m tapestry, made on an old wooden loom, in partnership with a collective of weavers from the interior of Minas Gerais, the “Casa do Tear Dona Mariana”,

On October 12th and 13th, there will be a native bee mapping drive, a collective walk to search for and identify native bees in urban environments. The artistic action will take place around the Funarte Cultural Complex. On October 12th, there will also be a “Seed Bombs” workshop, an activity focused on urban sustainability.

PROGRAMME

Activities open to the general public

1. “Buzzing”

A bioacoustic experience by João Machado and Daniel Magnani. Musical sound experimentation, the result of a partnership between artist João Machado and musician Daniel Magnani. Using a mixing desk with sound equipment, the duo musicalizes live swarm sounds, based on distortions, reverberations and improvisation. All ages.

Date: 05/10 (Saturday) – opening day

Schedule: 14pm to 14:30pm

Location: Funarte Cultural Complex – Mário Schenberg Gallery

Address: Alameda Nothmann, 1058 – Champs-Elysées, Sao Paulo – SP, 01216-001

2. Opening chat with artist and curator.

Artists João Machado and Daniel Magnani, and curator Arasy Benitez, will talk to the audience about the environmental and cultural importance of native bees in Brazil, and about the artists’ aesthetic research on the subject. The chat will take place after the sound experience “Zumbido”. All ages.

Date: 05/10 (Saturday)

Time: 14: 30h at 15: 30h

Location: Funarte Cultural Complex – Mário Schenberg Gallery

Address: Alameda Nothmann, 1058 – Champs-Elysées, Sao Paulo – SP, 01216-001

3. “Seed Bombs” Workshop

A workshop with artist João Machado to create “seed bombs” to be used as food for bees living in urban environments. An activity to get your hands and clothes dirty with lots of mud and at the same time learn about native stingless bees, how they live and survive in the city. All ages are allowed, children aged 0 to 10 must be accompanied by their responsible adults.

Date: 12/10 (Saturday)

Time: 10h to 11h

Location: Funarte Cultural Complex – Mário Schenberg Gallery

Address: Alameda Nothmann, 1058 – Champs-Elysées, Sao Paulo – SP, 01216-001

4. Native Bee Mapping Drift

Artist João Machado invites you to an original walking experience. On a group walk, the group will map the native stingless bees that survive in urban environments. The idea is to search for, identify and map the swarms of native bees found around the Funarte Cultural Complex. All ages are allowed, children from 0 to 16 years old must be accompanied by their responsible adults.

Date: 12/10 and 13/10 (Saturday and Sunday)

Time: 11h to 12h

Location: Funarte Cultural Complex – Mário Schenberg Gallery

Address: Alameda Nothmann, 1058 – Champs-Elysées, Sao Paulo – SP, 01216-001

Activities for specific audiences

1. “Seed Bombs” workshop and guided tour of the exhibition for visually impaired people

Artist João Machado, curator Arasy Benítez and art educator Gabriela Conceição are offering a workshop aimed at the visually impaired. The goal is to make "seed bombs" from plants that will later be used as food for bees that live in urban environments. This is an activity that will get your hands and clothes dirty with a lot of mud and at the same time learn about native stingless bees, how they live and survive in the city. All ages are allowed, children aged 0 to 10 must be accompanied by their responsible adults.

Date: 13 / 10

Time: 10h to 11h

Location: Funarte Cultural Complex – Mário Schenberg Gallery

Address: Alameda Nothmann, 1058 – Champs-Elysées, Sao Paulo – SP, 01216-001

2. Guided visits with public schools

Guided visits with public schools in the region will be led by art educator Gabriela Conceição. There will be 6 guided visits with groups at a time and date to be arranged.

Service
Exhibition | Bioacoustic Geopropolis
From October 05rd to November 03st
Wednesday to Sunday 14pm to 19pm