The queen sago belongs to the Cycadaceae, a family of plants with prehistorical features. In its scientific name, the term circinalis is Latin for ‘spiral,’ making reference to the rolled leaflets (parts of the leaves) during its young phase. Similar to a small palm, it has long, rigid, and shiny leaves that can reach up … Continued
Of Tupi origin, the name ‘coité’ means vessel or pot, the reason why this plant is also known as calabash tree. Its hard and strong wood is used in carpentry and cabinetry. The very hard shell of its fruit is used to make vessels and musical instruments, like the berimbau. The plant can also be … Continued
Cultivated in different parts of the world, the species Colocasia esculenta is an important source of food for populations of tropical and subtropical regions. The ‘aquatilis’ variety, popularly known as purple taro, is mostly used for ornamental purposes and one of the most iconic of the Inhotim collection, standing out for its deep-purple hue and … Continued
The ponytail palm is a shrub that can reach up to 5 meters high, of semi-woody texture and sculptural aspect. Although it is similar to a palm tree, it belongs to another botanic family. Native to the desert regions of Texas (USA) and Mexico, the ponytail palm retains a lot of water in its spongy … Continued
Also known as pacara earpod tree, the tamboril is an iconic tree at Inhotim. It is located in the central area of the park and has no less than 80 to 100 years. Already a mature tree, with nearly 20 meters high and a broad, bushy crown, it offers great shade during summer for those … Continued
In untitled (2001), Edgard de Souza revisits the bronze statuary tradition between the 17th and 19th centuries, an important reference of his work. The midsection is the point of contact between two bodies – that then become, at the same time, two and one. It is possible to recognize a couple, but also one single … Continued
Troca-troca (2002) is a work by Jarbas Lopes composed of three colorful Volkswagen Beetles, originally yellow, blue, and red, that had their bodies interchanged, resulting in three multicolored cars. They were used by the artist and a group of friends on a trip from Rio de Janeiro to Curitiba, in 2002. The communication between the … Continued
The works of John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres portray the usages and traditions of communities close to Instituto Inhotim. Both Abre a porta (2006) and Rodoviária de Brumadinho (2005) are the result of a long immersive process of the duo in the daily life of Brumadinho. In the first mural, one can see the representation … Continued
Untitled (2001) is one of the most relevant examples of Amilcar de Castro’s late trajectory. Still in the 1950s, the sculptor developed a technique ruled by seamless operations, based only on cuts and folds of single metal sheets. Here, the use of weathering steel as raw material, rusting over time, just as the use of … Continued
Na escultura vemos Pinóquio – boneco de madeira criado em 1883, pelo escritor italiano Carlo Collodi (1826–1890) e popularizado nos anos 1940 por Walt Disney – sentado sobre livros. Originalmente simpático e carismático, o personagem aqui é apresentado de maneira grotesca, com sua cabeça substituída por um imenso cubo. Apesar dessa imagem corresponder à tradução … Continued