Lina Bo Bardi's MAM-Bahia: A Legacy of Modernity
Discover the story of the Italian-Brazilian architect's vision for a museum in a historic Bahia landmark.
Fifó - Lina Bo Bardi (1978) by Bob WolfensonMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
The Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM-Bahia) was conceived by the Italian-Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi, who served as its first director from 1959 to 1963.
Lina Bo Bardi arrived in Brazil in 1946 with her husband Pietro Maria Bardi. And in 1957, she began designing the new headquarters for the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), a project that was completed in 1968.
In 1958, Lina was invited by the Bahian modernist architect Diógenes Rebouças to teach at the old School of Fine Arts in Bahia. She became a columnist for the local newspaper Diário de Notícias, writing and illustrating articles on Bahian culture.
Solar do Unhão em reformaMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
Lina befriended the set designer and theater director Eros Martim Gonçalves Pereira, who founded the School of Theater at the Federal University of Bahia. Together, they explored the city and came across the Solar do Unhão, a historical architectural complex.
Solar do Unhão em reformaMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
In 1959, the governor of Bahia, Juracy Magalhães, appointed Lina to establish a museum of modern art in the state. She proposed restoring the Solar do Unhão and turning it into a museum of popular art. In January 1960, she inaugurated MAM's first exhibition in a temporary location.
Solar do Unhão em reformaMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
Lina's restoration of the Solar do Unhão sought to integrate the historical building into modern life. She knocked down interior walls and preserved the multiple historical uses of the structure, which dates back four centuries.
Complexo Solar do UnhãoMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
In November 1963, she handed over the Solar do Unhão to the population with a Museum of Popular Art, inaugurating two exhibitions: 'Artists of the Northeast' and 'Civilization of the Northeast'.
Escada do MAM-BahiaMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
After the 1964 military coup, Lina was dismissed by the government, and the two museums were merged into the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM-Bahia) at the Unhão complex.
Fifó - Lina Bo Bardi (1978) by Bob WolfensonMuseum of Modern Art of Bahia - MAM
Modernizing a Historical Gem
Lina Bo Bardi's restoration of the Solar do Unhão was a delicate balance between preservation and innovation. She modernized the building while respecting its historical significance, creating a space that seamlessly blends the past and the present.
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