South Africa x Brazil: A Partnership in the Arts

A vibrant art ecosystem is one that reaches beyond its own borders for inspiration, trade and partnerships. The FNB JoburgArtFair has created a partnership of this kind with a fair that shares many Global South traits. SP-Arte is three years our senior and takes place in São Paulo each year in April. Discussions started between us and SP-Arte around doing a country to country exchange that will introduce new audiences to galleries as well as artists from both countries.

The partnership was kicked off by facilitating blank projects (Cape Town) to exhibit in the solo section of SP-Arte that took place two weeks ago. This exchange will also have an iteration at this year’s FNB JoburgArtFair and promises to be both educational and enriching for our audience.

The idea is that in years to come there will be stronger connections between the Brazilian and South African art economies through more South African galleries showcasing in Brazil and more galleries from Brazil exhibiting at the FNB JoburgArtFair.

«blank projects were invited to participate in this year’s edition of SP-Arte by one of the fair’s curators, Luiza Teixeira de Freitas, with a solo project by São Paulo-born artist Pedro Wirz.

The invitation offered an opportunity to gain insight into the Brazilian (and Latin American) art market, and to develop new networks on the continent. The scene in São Paulo is vital and robust, with an array of institutions, project spaces and private galleries hosting events during the fair week. These events, together with the fair itself, provided opportunity to meet with local curators and artists and exchange ideas around collaboration between the two countries, and to further explore the South-South relationship.» Jonathan Garnham, Director, blank projects

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