Latin America Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Latin America Memorial (in Portuguese
, Memorial da América Latina) is a cultural, political and leisure complex, inaugurated in 1989, in São Paulo
, Brazil
. The architectural setting, designed by Oscar Niemeyer
, is a monument
to the cultural, political, social and economic integration of Latin America
, spanning an area of 84,482 square meters. Its cultural project was developed by Brazilian
anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro
. It is a public foundation, financially and administratively autonomous, maintained by the state government.
The architectural complex consists of several buildings arranged around two squares. It comprises: Salão de Atos Tiradentes (Tiradentes
"hall of acts"), the Victor Civita Latin American Library
, the Brazilian Center of Latin American Studies, the Marta Traba Gallery of Latin American Art, the Pavilhão da Criatividade ("creativity pavilion"), the Símon Bolívar Auditorium, and the Latin American Parliament building. In the main square (Praça Cívica), there is a large concrete sculpture
, also designed by Oscar Niemeyer, representing an open hand in vertical position, with the map
of Latin America painted in red. It’s a symbol of Latin America’s past of oppression and its battles for freedom, with the red map as a reminder of the blood from the sacrifices that were made.
The Memorial has a permanent collection
of works of art
, on display in the indoors and outdoors spaces, as well as a large assemblage of Latin American folk art
, housed in the Pavilhão da Criatividade. The library
comprises 30,000 titles, besides music
and image
departments. The Memorial promotes exhibitions, conferences, debates, video sessions, theater, dance and music performances. It also has a research center specializing in Latin American issues and keeps an active bibliographic production. From 1989 to 2007, the Memorial also served as a host to the Latin American Parliament
.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, Memorial da América Latina) is a cultural, political and leisure complex, inaugurated in 1989, in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The architectural setting, designed by Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
, is a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
to the cultural, political, social and economic integration of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, spanning an area of 84,482 square meters. Its cultural project was developed by Brazilian
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
anthropologist Darcy Ribeiro
Darcy Ribeiro
Darcy Ribeiro was a Brazilian anthropologist, author and politician. Darcy Ribeiro's ideas of Latin American identity have influenced several later scholars of Latin American studies...
. It is a public foundation, financially and administratively autonomous, maintained by the state government.
The architectural complex consists of several buildings arranged around two squares. It comprises: Salão de Atos Tiradentes (Tiradentes
Tiradentes
Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes , was a leading member of the Brazilian revolutionary movement known as the Inconfidência Mineira whose aim was full independence from the Portuguese colonial power and to create a Brazilian republic. When the plan was discovered, Tiradentes was...
"hall of acts"), the Victor Civita Latin American Library
Victor Civita Latin American Library
The Victor Civita Latin American Library is a public library of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.-The Entire Collection:...
, the Brazilian Center of Latin American Studies, the Marta Traba Gallery of Latin American Art, the Pavilhão da Criatividade ("creativity pavilion"), the Símon Bolívar Auditorium, and the Latin American Parliament building. In the main square (Praça Cívica), there is a large concrete sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, also designed by Oscar Niemeyer, representing an open hand in vertical position, with the map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
of Latin America painted in red. It’s a symbol of Latin America’s past of oppression and its battles for freedom, with the red map as a reminder of the blood from the sacrifices that were made.
The Memorial has a permanent collection
Collection (museum)
A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, replaceable and less exhibition oriented...
of works of art
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
, on display in the indoors and outdoors spaces, as well as a large assemblage of Latin American folk art
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
, housed in the Pavilhão da Criatividade. The library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
comprises 30,000 titles, besides music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and image
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
departments. The Memorial promotes exhibitions, conferences, debates, video sessions, theater, dance and music performances. It also has a research center specializing in Latin American issues and keeps an active bibliographic production. From 1989 to 2007, the Memorial also served as a host to the Latin American Parliament
Latin American Parliament
The Latin American Parliament , is a regional, permanent organization composed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a consultative assembly similar to the early European Parliament...
.
See also
- Museu PaulistaMuseu PaulistaThe Museu Paulista of the University of São Paulo is a Brazilian history museum located near where Emperor D. Pedro I proclaimed the Brazilian independence on the banks of Ipiranga brook in the Southeast region of the city of São Paulo, then the "Caminho do Mar," or road to the seashore...
- Museum of the Portuguese LanguageMuseum of the Portuguese LanguageThe Museum of the Portuguese Language is an interactive Portuguese language — and Linguistics/Language Development in general — museum in São Paulo, Brazil. It is housed in the Estação da Luz train station, in the urban district of the same name...
- MALBAMALBAThe Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires is a museum located on Figueroa Alcorta Avenue, in the Palermo section of Buenos Aires.Created by Argentine businessman Eduardo Constantini, the museum is operated by the not-for-profit Fundación MALBAConstantini, and was inaugurated on September 21,...
- Latin American artLatin American artLatin American art is the combined artistic expressions of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico, as well as Latin American living in other regions....
- List of Oscar Niemeyer works