Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement
Sir Isaac Julien’s multichannel film installation Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement (2019) offers a poetic portrait of the leading architect of Brazilian modernism, Lina Bo Bardi (1914–1992). Unfolding in a nonlinear narrative, Julien’s film explores Bo Bardi’s life, work, and legacy, exemplifying her remark that “time is not linear, it is a marvellous entanglement.” A new nine-screen installation envisioned for the Yale Architecture Gallery ignites a conversation between Bo Bardi’s Brazilian landmarks, Julien’s filmic homage, and Paul Rudolph’s Brutalist design for the Yale School of Architecture. In Julien’s loving portrayal, Bo Bardi’s personal history is intertwined with the enduring life of the buildings she designed, which are now embedded in the culture and social fabric of Brazil. Much like Bo Bardi’s expressive architecture, Julien’s film provides space for a wide range of creative practice, including performances by the Academy Award–nominated actor Fernanda Montenegro and her daughter, the Cannes-laureate actor Fernanda Torres; original dance choreographed by Zebrinha and performed by the Balé Folclórico da Bahia; and a commissioned performance by the art collective Araká. Bo Bardi’s individual story is entangled within a cultural ecosystem that celebrates the vibrancy of the arts in Brazil.
About Sir Isaac Julien
Filmmaker and installation artist Sir Isaac Julien KBE RA (b. 1960) rose to fame in the late 1980s following the cult success of his documentary-drama Looking for Langston (1989). Over more than three decades, the artist has explored the narrative potential of film, touching on issues of gender, sexuality, race, migration, and colonial legacies, often through a focus on a single individual or artwork. Julien’s work has been exhibited at museums and galleries throughout Europe and the United States. He has exhibited twice at the Venice Biennale (2015 and 2017), as well as at the 7th Gwangju Bienniale, South Korea (2008); Prospect.1, New Orleans (2008); Performa 07, New York (2007) and documenta11, Kassel (2002). A major survey of Julien’s work, What Freedom is to Me, will be on view at Tate Britain from April to August 2023. Julien has received many honors and awards, including the Royal Academy Charles Wollaston Award (2017). In 2022 he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
About Lina Bo Bardi
Born and educated in Rome, Bo Bardi moved to Brazil in 1946, where she developed a design philosophy rooted in the social function of architecture. Known for her improvisation and use of innovative building materials, Bo Bardi balanced Brazilian vernacular forms with a modern aesthetic. Her belief in the interrelation of all the arts influenced her designs of some of Brazil’s most iconic cultural institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, the São Paolo Museum of Art (MASP), SESC Pompéia, and Teatro Oficina.
Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement is organized by the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale School of Architecture. The exhibition is curated by Andrew Benner, Director of Exhibitions and Senior Critic at the Yale School of Architecture, and Rachel Stratton, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for British Art.
Exhibition Credits
LINA BO BARDI—A MARVELLOUS ENTANGLEMENT | PRODUCTION CREDITS
CAST LINA BO BARDI: Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres HIMSELF: José Celso Martinez Corrêa
MAM BAHIA PERFORMANCE BALÉ FOLCLÓRICO DA BAHIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Walson Botelho, Alan Mendes CHOREOGRAPHERS: Zebrinha, Roberto Montenegro DANCERS: Arismar Souza, Cleonides Santos, Gabriel Santos, Jadson Santos, Jefferson Nascimento, Priscila Vaz, Tamirez Amorim, Tiago Lima, Wagner Santana PERCUSSIONISTS: José Ricardo Dos Santos, Alcides Morais
COATY BUILDING PERFORMANCE PLATAFORMA ÀRÀKÁ PERFORMERS: Diego Alcântara dos Santos, Laís Lopes, Neemias Santana, Romário Costa, Valdimere Souza CHOREOGRAPHER: Diego Pinheiro MUSICIANS: André Oliveira, Gabriel Texeira Penha
FERNANDA MONTENEGRO AND FERNANDA TORRES AGENTS TALENT AGENT: Carmem Mello TALENT AGENT ASSISTANT: Elinete Neves
CREW EDITOR: Adam Finch PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND RESEARCHER: Rafaela Mendes Ferreira PRODUCTION: Ocean Films DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Gustavo Hadba 1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Flavia Zentil 2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Maurício Zattoni PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Claudio Amaral Peixoto COSTUME DESIGNER: Carol Barreto STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER: Thorsten Henn
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT PRODUCERS: Cristian Marini (Ocean Films), Zahra Staub (Ocean Films) BIDDING PRODUCER: Bia De Camillis (Ocean Films) CONTROLLER: Bárbara Frezza (Ocean Films) LINE PRODUCER: Sebas Marini (Ocean Films) PRODUCTION MANAGER: Luciana Oppido PRODUCTION COORDINATORS: Carolina Napoli, Silene Correa, Lucas Correa de Figueiredo PRODUCTION COORDINATOR (SALVADOR): Sheila Edite da Silva Gomes PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Márcia Lemos (Ocean Films), Tabatta Jäger (Ocean Films) PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (SALVADOR): Natália Gidi dos Santos TRAINEE: Sara Serra de Oliveira FLOOR RUNNERS (SÃO PAULO): Edson Ferreira da Silva, Sandro de Melo Silva, Luiz Eduardo de Queiroz Bretas, John Lennon Alexandre da Silva RUNNERS (SALVADOR): José Rodrigues da Silva, Albert Santos Lima, Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Santos SUPPORT PRODUCTION (SALVADOR): Mauricio Cabeça PROJECTOR OPERATOR (SALVADOR): Davi Gabiru
ART DEPARTMENT ART DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR: Castor Assunção Tavares ART DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT: Renata Zbóril PROP MASTER (SÃO PAULO): Juliano Binoti de Barros DESIGNER BENIN HOUSE BANNERS: Goya Lopes ART RUNNER (SÃO PAULO): Bruno Yoshicava PROPS MASTERS (SALVADOR): Bruno Peixoto, Anderson Miranda ART RUNNER 1 (SALVADOR): Alan dos Santos Cerqueira ART RUNNER 2 (SALVADOR): Augusto Alonso PICTURE RETOUCH (SALVADOR): Ailton Silva
CAMERA DEPARTMENT STEADICAM OPERATOR: Maoma Faria 1ST AC (1ST UNIT): Leo Gonzaga 2ND AC (1ST UNIT, SÃO PAULO): Yuri Seid VIDEO ASSIST (1ST UNIT): Leonardo Silva Pereira Pinto 1ST AC (2ND UNIT): Catarina Luiz Metzner 2 ND AC (2ND UNIT): Guilherme de Souza Silva 2 ND AC (1ST UNIT, SALVADOR): Daniel Carvalho LOGGER: Rafael Belli Canova DRONE OPERATOR (SESC): Alberto Kalin, Youssef Matulaitis ASSISTANT DRONE OPERATOR (SESC): Diego Rinaldi Mendes TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR (SÃO PAULO): Fábio Sanches Pelegrini Brito TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR (SALVADOR): Diane Luz
SOUND DEPARTMENT SOUND TECHNICIANS (SÃO PAULO): Pablo Aranda, Rodrigo Macedo, Marquinhos Ribeiro SOUND TECHNICIAN (SALVADOR): Ana Penna BOOM MAN (SALVADOR): Cristina da Luz Lima
LIGHTING DEPARTMENT GAFFER: Jubel Ferreira Magalhaes 1ST ASSISTANT: Jeovan Ronilson dos Santos 2ND ASSISTANT: Valter Torres dos Santos, Jefferson Ferreira da Silva, Adelson Albergaria Costa, Hudson Cainn Bonfim Costa GENERATOR (SALVADOR): José Carlos Barros, Magno
GRIP DEPARTMENT KEY GRIP (SÃO PAULO): Carlos Gomes Fidelis BEST BOY (SÃO PAULO): Fabiano Oliveira Dias BEST BOY (SALVADOR): Lander Humildes Costa 2ND ASSISTANTS (SÃO PAULO): Orlando Jesus Francisco, Paulo Daniel Campos 2ND ASSISTANT (SALVADOR): Thiago Pereira Borges BOOM MAN (SALVADOR): Cristina da Cruz Lima
WARDROBE DEPARTMENT WARDROBE STYLIST: Bia Salgado STYLIST ASSISTANT: Maria Alice Salgado de Miranda, Renata Pina de Cerqueira, Luciane Paim Ferreira COSTUME DESIGNER ASSISTANT: Teresa Abreu COSTUME WORKSHOP ASSISTANTS: Claudia Soares, Joice Fischer COSTUME PRODUCTION: Nanci Meire, Priscila Bastos PURCHASING ASSISTANT: Leda Villas Boas DESIGN ASSISTANT: Andreza Pires, Carla Calixto, Juliana Tavares SEAMSTRESS: Tânia Neves, Valda Oliveira COSTUME PROPS: Ju Fonseca COSTUME PROPS ASSISTANT: Ulli Vianna
MAKE UP & HAIR DEPARTMENT MAKE UP ARTIST & HAIR STYLIST: Martin Macias Trujillo MAKE UP & HAIR ASSISTANT: Cristiane Carvalho HAIR STYLIST (SALVADOR): Mukunã (Claudio)
EXTRAS & SECURITY DEPARTMENT LADEIRA DA MISERICÓRDIA PROCESSION: Adeline Seixas Alves, Adriano Lopes Chagas, Alana Gabriela da Conceição Santos, Alessandra B. Cerqueira, Ana Caroline Silva Neves, Ana Cláudia dos Santos Borba, Ana Leticia Rodrigues Ribeiro, Anandeliza dos Santos Pinheiro, Andreza Caroline Silva, Anita de Jesus Ceto, Anna Caroline dos Santos Borba, Brenda Silva dos Santos, Carla Elaine Neves dos Santos, Cláudia Leal Ribeiro, Cressieler Catarina S.N. Santos, Debora Maria Nascimento Soares, Diana Elaine de Souza Pereira, Diele Ferreira Fiuza, Eliana de Jesus Araújo, Elzeni Souza Dias, Emeli Neves dos Santos, Géssica Emili Oliveira Couto, Gilmara Souza Lopes, Girlene de S. Neves, Jaguaracir Alves dos Santos, Jailto Oliveira Conceição, Jamile França dos Santos, Jamli Barreto Cruz, Jefferson dos Santos, Jefferson Rodrigo B. de Almeida, Jesse de Jesus Lima Junior, José Sócrates Olavo de Souza, Júlia L. Casemiro da Silva, Juliana Vianna de Campos, Laís dos Santos, Leidiane Araújo Alves, Lia Patrícia Andrade de Jesus, Luana Santana Ferreira, Luis Bruno Lima de Moura, Luiz Otávio Araújo dos Santos, Marcelo Conceição Bonfim, Maria Bárbara Teles da Cruz, Maria Helena Bispo dos Santos, Norma Ferrreira S. Ricardo, Rafaela Rangel dos Santos, Raquel M. O. dos Santos, Rita Maria Montenego Dória, Rosalice Maria da Paz Rocha, Sara S. Rocha, Silvia Mendes Pereira, Sueli Conceição Ferreira, Tatiana dos Santos Rodrigues, Valdemiro Souza de Assis SESC POMPEIA: Amanda Soares, Andressa Caila, Arthur Pereira, Arthur Tymchenko, Fábio Antunes Maxini, Luiz Roberto Maciel, Luiza Cordeiro, Ricardo de Souza Rodrigues, Sandra Salamanca, Vanessa Rubino Valério SECURITY (SÃO PAULO): Carlos Antonio Virgilino SECURITY CREW (SALVADOR): Gervásio Benedito Santos Rosário, Arivaldo Mercês Vieira, Adenilson Rosa de Brito FIREFIGHTER (SALVADOR): Arthur Barreto
POST-PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Vanessa Myrie POST-PRODUCTION COORDINATOR (ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO): Manon Schwich GRADING & ONLINE: The Moving Picture Company COLOURIST (MPC): Jean Clément Soret EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ellora Chowdury SENIOR PRODUCER (MPC): Kayleigh Dugdale SUBTITLING: SubTI PROJECT MANAGER: Valeria Gallo TRANSLATION: Michael Marsden ARCHIVE CLEARANCE: Julia Franceschini, Matthew Sanger, Pedro Vilain ONLINE AND DELIVERY: Halo Post ONLINE EDITOR (HALO): Adam Hall POST-PRODUCTION PRODUCER (HALO): Will Garbutt SOUND STUDIO: Real World Studios RE-RECORDING MIXER: Karl Mainzer, Rowan Jennings MUSIC COMPOSITION: Maria D’Alvear, Thomas Ragsdale ADDITIONAL SOUND COMPOSITION: Andy Cowton ADDITIONAL MUSIC: Jana Winderen - Heated Parts 4 & 5, Bertolt Brecht – Die Moritat von Mackie Messer, Thomas Ragsdale - Seventh King, Dorival Caymmi - Maracangalha, Smokey Hormel - Sous les Tropiques, Joao Parahyba - Piraquara, Pontos de Macumba - Exu Marabo EXHIBITION FABRICATION: Andy Healy AUDIOVISUAL MANAGER: Tom Cullen AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT: ProAV AUDIOVISUAL SUPERVISOR: Jorma Saarikko AUDIOVISUAL TECHNICIAN: Eric Brun, Jarmo Kopponen ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO: Juanita Boxill, James Keith, Vladimir Seput, Paul Smith
SUPPORTED BY Instituto Bardi / Casa de Vidro, São Paulo Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City, San Antonio Sammlung Wemhöner, Herford Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation in collaboration with Outset Contemporary Art Fund, London and Toronto Graham Foundation, Chicago Goethe Institut, Salvador Victoria Miro Gallery, London/Venice | Nara Roesler Gallery, São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro/New York | Ron Mandos Gallery, Amsterdam | Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
FILMED ON LOCATION IN LINA BO BARDI’S BUILDINGS SESC Pompeia, São Paulo Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) Teatro Oficina, São Paulo Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia / Solar do Unhão, Salvador Coaty, Ladeira da Misericórdia, Salvador Fundação Gregório de Mattos, Salvador
IN ASSOCIATION WITH Casa do Benin, Salvador Fundação Pierre Verger, Salvador Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Salvador Plataforma Araka, Salvador ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO
SPECIAL THANKS Alex Baradel (Pierre Verger Institute) André Vainer Adriano Pedrosa Carol Weinbaum Candida Gertler OBE Danilo Miranda Fernanda Souza (Coaty) Felipe Dias Rego (Coaty) Giancarlo Latorraca Hans Ulrich Obrist Heiner and Elke Wemhöner Leonel Henckes Mahima Luna Macchione Manfred Stoffl Marina Grinover (Base3 Arquitetos) Sol Camacho Solange Farkas Waldick Jatobá Zeuler R. M. de A. Lima
