The 74-meter-long free span was designed by the architect Lina Bo Bardi as a civic square, a meeting place for various cultural events such as dance, theater, music, and circus, as well as interactive and educational exhibitions. The work of Iván Argote (Bogotá, Colombia, 1983) reinforces the purpose of the space by proposing an interactive installation made up of two mobile platforms placed at the ends of the space, transforming it into a field for sensory and social experimentation.
The work functions as a large seesaw that tilts as visitors walk around, reflecting the dynamics of balance and collective movement. When a single person moves, the balance remains almost unchanged; however, collective action can completely redefine the inclination of the platform, which tilts to one side or the other. The most complex situation occurs when the participants distribute their weight evenly and achieve a state of stability.
Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, Artistic Director, MASP, and assisted by Matheus de Andrade, Curatorial Assistant, MASP, the installation proposes new interpretations of public space, urban interventions and power structures. Iván Argote’s seesaws challenge the idea of monuments – symbols of collective memory and history – by transforming public space into an open playground: a meeting place that encourages coexistence, dialogue and interaction within the community.
“This is a historic moment for the museum. One of the central features of Lina Bo Bardi’s project was the confluence between the museum space and the free span beneath it. Argote’s work dialogues with Lina’s thinking and suggests a metaphor for the relationship between the individual and society, highlighting the power of collaboration for bringing about change. By combining playfulness and reflection, the artist invites the public to rethink their interactions in urban space and community life. It’s a very appropriate piece for this new phase of the Museum,” says Matheus de Andrade.
The work arrives in Brazil after being exhibited at the Lyon Biennale in France in 2024, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in 2023, and the Centquatre in Paris in 2017. Redesigned to fit the free span at MASP, the seesaws are 15 meters long, five meters wide and two meters high. The work can be seen by anyone passing by on Avenida Paulista at any time and is open to visitors every day from 10 am to 10 pm.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Iván Argote was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1983 and lives in Paris. As an artist and filmmaker, he makes films, photographs, sculptures and performances, as well as large-scale installations, often built for public spaces. His works problematize contemporary man’s relationship with power structures, belief systems, and urban spaces. He participated in the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024, installed a sculpture on New York’s High Line, and has had solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, Dallas, Berlin, and Ardez, Switzerland.
SERVICE INFO
Iván Argote: The Other, Me, and the Others
Curated by Adriano Pedrosa, Artistic Director, MASP, with the support of Matheus de Andrade, Curatorial Assistant, MASP.
Free Span, Lina Bo Bardi Building
On view starting April 10, 2025
Daily from 10am to 10pm
Free entry
MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
Avenida Paulista, 1578 – Bela Vista
01310-200 São Paulo, SP
Telephone: +55 (11) 3149-5959
Hours: Free on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (admission until 7 p.m.); Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (admission until 5 p.m.); Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (free admission from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.); Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (admission until 5 p.m.); closed on Mondays.
Online booking required via masp.org.br/ingressos
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