The 28th Bienal de Sâo Paulo: a post-mortem discussion

Aiming to offer a platform for observation and reflection upon the culture and system of biennials within the international art circuit, the 28th Bienal de Sâo Paulo (Oct-Dec 2008) proposed a different format from previous editions.

After the event, Moacir dos Anjos, Michael Asbury, Elizabeth Araújo Lima and Isobel Whitelegg looked at different aspects of the edition that was titled ‘In Living Contact’ and colloquially termed the ‘Empty Bienal’.

In turn, they will each review and raise for open discussion its curatorial concept, critical reception, and the unplanned intervention that marked its opening to the public.