Until 17 November, MASP presents the exhibition Leonilson: agora e as oportunidades, dedicated entirely to the works produced by the artist in the last five years of his life. Spread across five rooms on the institution's first floor and mezzanine, the show had its logistics entirely handled by Clé Chenue do Brasil: an extensive job of collecting, packing, transporting and unpacking the works, carried out with the planning and security that the artist's legacy deserves.
Ten days of collection in São Paulo, Rio and Belo Horizonte
Most of the works were located in São Paulo. There were 10 days of pickups in the city, from private collections and institutions, plus two days of pickups in Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. Before the pickups, an inspection was carried out at every location to assess which works would need to be housed in made-to-measure wooden crates.
Part of the works was collected at the headquarters of Projeto Leonilson, coordinated by the artist's family, which carries out meticulous work to preserve his memory and legacy.
Seven days of unpacking at MASP
The Clé Chenue do Brasil team spent seven days at MASP opening the crates and unpacking the works, while the museum's own team drew up the condition reports recording the state of each work.
Where the crates stay during the show
The crates will be kept in Clé Chenue do Brasil's art storage facility, in a climate-controlled environment with pest control, until the exhibition closes, when the collection and packing work will be carried out once again at the museum to return each item to its owners.
According to MASP, "Leonilson (1957-1993) is an artist both central and marginal in the history of Brazilian art. Central because he is the author of an absolutely essential body of work from the end of the 20th century, recognised in many exhibitions, books and even tattoos. But he is also marginal because, with such a singular body of work, he does not fit easily into the movements and generations of Brazilian art history".
How to visit
Located in the iconic building by Lina Bo Bardi on Avenida Paulista, MASP opens on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 20:00, and Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission is free on Tuesdays.
