Carolina Maria de Jesus: A Brazil for Brazilians | Moreira Salles Institute

The Moreira Salles Institute is exhibiting, at its headquarters in São Paulo, the exhibition Carolina Maria de Jesus: A Brazil for Brazilians. Intertwining different languages, the show presents the trajectory and production of the writer, highlighting little-known aspects of her life and work. Admission is free, with prior booking.

The selection brings together approximately 300 items, including photographs, press articles, videos, and other documents. It also includes works by about 60 artists, some commissioned, that engage with the themes investigated by Carolina. The curatorship is by anthropologist Hélio Menezes and historian Raquel Barreto, with curatorial assistance from art historian Luciara Ribeiro. The exhibition also features research by literary critic and PhD in Literature Fernanda Miranda.

Divided into 15 thematic sections, the exhibition occupies the 8th and 9th floors of the IMS Paulista, with works also present on the 5th floor, the ground floor, and Avenida Paulista. The exhibition presents the reflections of Carolina de Jesus (1914-1977) throughout her life, from her childhood in the city of Sacramento (MG), in the post-abolition context, through her arrival in the capital of São Paulo, the launch and impact of her books, to the end of her life in Parelheiros (SP). The selection allows one to observe how Carolina interpreted the contradictions, politics, and inequality of Brazil during her time. The exhibition also highlights the historical importance of the author for issues such as anti-racism, the struggles for literacy, and housing.