Aqui Estou | Brasilia, 2023-22

Marking the 16th anniversary of the Museu Nacional da República, AQUI ESTOU presented a selection of 55 works from the museum’s collection, bringing forward a curatorial investigation led by Sabrina Moura throughout 2022. The exhibition was the first in a two-part program aimed at revisiting and reactivating the museum’s collection as a living space of research and public engagement.

Structured around three intersecting thematic axes—body, landscape, and collective memory—the exhibition reflected on how contemporary art produced in and beyond Brasília can help reframe narratives of Brazilian art history. Drawing from a collection of over 1,500 works, the selection embraced a wide diversity of artistic languages, media, and generations, highlighting both established and emerging voices.

Rather than offering a comprehensive overview of Brazilian contemporary art, AQUI ESTOU sought to reimagine the museum’s role as a knowledge-producing institution situated in the country's geographic and symbolic center. In contrast to narratives traditionally shaped by the Rio-São Paulo axis, the exhibition anchored its perspective in the landscapes of the Brazilian Cerrado and the histories and experiences grounded in Brasília’s singular cultural environment.

Among the featured artists were Hildebrando de Castro, Gisel Carriconde, Fábio Baroli, Adriana Vignoli, Raquel Nava, Fayga Ostrower, Josafá Neves, João Trevisan, João Angelini, and Raissa Studart, among others. The title of the show, AQUI ESTOU, borrowed from a work by artist Ralph Gehre, foregrounded the urgency of claiming presence, place, and positionality within national collections.

The exhibition was made possible through a technical cooperation with UNESCO, supporting curatorial research and contributing to the museum’s broader strategy of collection care, access, and expansion.