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Kenny Scharf, Saner, Joana Vasconcelos and Other Artists Transform Abandoned Estate in Sao Paulo

A large, abandoned Victorian hospital in the heart of Sao Paulo, Cidade Matarazzo became an artists' playground for the project "Made by Brazilians." Kenny Scharf, Arne Quinze, Joana Vasconcelos, Charley Case, Saner and others transformed the building with immersive installations in the weeks leading up to the Sao Paulo Biennial. Before plans to remodel the estate are put into effect, viewers are welcome to visit the space through October 11.


Kenny Scharf

A large, abandoned Victorian hospital in the heart of Sao Paulo, Cidade Matarazzo became an artists’ playground for the project “Made by Brazilians.” Kenny Scharf, Arne Quinze, Joana Vasconcelos, Charley Case, Saner and others transformed the building with immersive installations in the weeks leading up to the Sao Paulo Biennial. Before plans to remodel the estate are put into effect, viewers are welcome to visit the space through October 11.

While Saner painted a long mural outside of the building that riffs on Brazilian folklore, Kenny Scharf set up a hallucinatory, black-light installation filled with ephemera such as obsolete computer keyboards, knickknacks and his painted characters that grin from ear to ear. Joana Vasconcelos, a Portuguese artist, hung her weighty fabric sculptures in Cidade Matarazzo’s atrium and Arne Quinze set up a roof-like wood installation that alters the building’s architecture. Take a look at some photos from the project below.

Photos courtesy of “Made by… Feito por Brasileiros.”


Kenny Scharf


Kenny Scharf


Aerial view of Cidade Matarazzo


Arne Quinze installation


Charley Case


Joana Vasconcelos


Joana Vasconcelos


Nazirah Mestaoui and Huni Kuin


View from the inside of Cidade Matarazzo


View from the court yard


Outdoor mural by Saner


Saner mural detail

Saner mural detail

Saner with his work

Saner with his work

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In his current show at Honor Fraser in Los Angeles, Kenny Scharf shares wild new works that include new mixed-media paintings, sculptures, assemblages, and more. “Optimistically Melting!” takes over the space through Nov. 16, and in it, viewers find an veteran artist who maintains his graffiti sensibilities yet constantly pushes his interests into new arenas.
Although he is best known for his humorous graffiti and imagery, Kenny Scharf has long been interested in more serious political topics. His solo exhibition "Born Again", opening this Saturday at Honor Fraser gallery, highlights his unique ability to make the mundane more fun. In his latest series, bright and colorful palette and wacky shapes are painted onto repurposed, found art. It's not all fun and games for the artist, who sees his comical approach as an act of defiance.

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