The Instituto Tomie Ohtake, in São Paulo, has just opened the exhibition Coleção Vilma Eid: Em cada canto. The show transposes to the institution's public space the private collection of gallerist Vilma Eid, comprising works by more than one hundred popular, modern and contemporary artists. For the first time, the ensemble is thus broadly accessible to visitors.
Curated by Ana Roman and Catalina Bergues, the initiative takes place within the Instituto Tomie Ohtake Visita program, which forms partnerships with collectors and figures from the art circuit to broaden access to works from collections that are not usually open to the public. The exhibition includes works by artists such as Geraldo de Barros, Mira Schendel, Paulo Pasta, Tunga, Rubem Valentim, José Antonio da Silva, Isabel Mendes da Cunha, Itamar Julião and Veio.
A collection without hierarchies
The show seeks to present to the public something of the way Vilma arranges the collection in her own home, in an intimate manner while also proposing unexpected relationships between the works. Vilma is considered a key figure in the recognition of popular art, and her collection, often described as heterogeneous, expresses precisely the belief that there are no hierarchies between productions and artists
"Vilma played a fundamental role in the recognition and legitimization of artists often marginalized in the art circuit. Brought to the public for the first time, her collection challenges the Eurocentric narratives of Brazilian art, exploring new horizons and addressing the preservation of historically underrepresented Brazilian memories and narratives," states the promotional text.
Transporting the collection
The collection was transported in its entirety by Clé Chenue do Brasil, which specializes in fine art logistics.
Who is Vilma Eid
A gallerist and collector for forty years, Vilma Eid is also the founder of the Instituto do Imaginário do Povo Brasileiro, which collaborated with the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in 2012 on the exhibition Teimosia da Imaginação.
How to visit
Coleção Vilma Eid: Em cada canto is on view until May 25. The exhibition folder, with a text by the curators and an interview with the collector, is available for free download.
The Instituto Tomie Ohtake is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 19:00.
