Southern Discomfort

The 35th edition of the Bienal de Sao Paulo aims to focus on artists from the 'Global South', a term that refers to countries in Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia (excluding Israel, Japan, and South Korea), and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). This concept of the Global South has evolved over time, from a response to European imperialism to a more contemporary focus on economics and culture. The curators of the Bienal, as well as other art events like Videobrasil and the Venice Biennale, are using this term to challenge the dominance of the North and to create a space for artists from underprivileged backgrounds. The current Bienal de Sao Paulo, curated by a four-person collective, aims to break away from traditional structures and hierarchies, including the categorization of artists by nationality. The exhibition seeks to provide a platform for artists who do not necessarily have a defined country or whose territories are not recognized as nations. By embracing the Global South, the curators hope to reject European and Western universalism and to explore artistic practices that are intertwined with religion and ecology.