Athos and Oscar

Brasilia was the place where their relationship gave rise to masterpieces, but their work can be seen in several other cities in Brazil and around the world.

“Following the example of so many other Brazilian artists of the time, Athos Bulcão went to study in Paris, between 1948 and 1950, with a scholarship from the French government. Back in Rio, he worked on book and magazine illustrations and theater scenery ...

It was years later, in 1958, that there came the great turning point of his career when he moved to Brasilia to work on Oscar Niemeyer's projects in France, Italy, Algeria, in addition to the construction of the new capital.

Marília Panitz

“I really started by drawing on pictures and paintings. The person who brought me the opportunity to work on architectural projects was Oscar Niemeyer. That was a long time ago [...]

…From 1955 I had already started to collaborate on Oscar's buildings and then came Brasilia … 

…And Brasília, then, showed us we could work permanently on projects for the new capital.”

Athos Bulcão

“I used to draw at Burle Marx's house, used to help him stretch canvases, do very artisanal things, learning to paint on canvas, with training from Portinari’s people.”

"I was doing some gouache drawings one day and Oscar came in to talk to Roberto about something, and he said: "What's that? I replied. And he said: "Ah, what a beautiful thing. Let's make a tile out of it".

"It was Oscar who guided me a lot in the beginning with problems of visuality, space, distance, which I learned from him."

"He once said that Lúcio Costa put him on the road, on the rails, of how to draw. And it was Oscar who set me on the right track in this part of architectural thinking<. "Athos Bulcão.”

Athos Bulcão

"From the experience with Oscar Niemeyer, in the work of architectural integration, Athos was able to assimilate all the knowledge, vocabulary and objectivity of modern architecture, combined with a spark of lyricism and sensibility."Fernando Cocchiarale

Fernando Cocchiarale

The partnership between Athos and Oscar lasted from the mid-1950s until the end of the 20th century.

“Sometimes I compare us to Fellini and Nino Rota. Nino Rota made up for something lacking. The important thing was the movie, but the music was important too."

"For a while, I felt like Nino Rota, with Oscar Niemeyer as Fellini."

"I was providing a musical accompaniment that had to be included in the work."

Athos Bulcão