22/04/2026
Exhibition design for “Place of Being: The Burle Marx Legacy”, in collaboration with Diogo Passarinho Studio, curated by Instituto Burle Marx and Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro - Isabela Ono, Pablo Lafuente and Beatriz Lemos. Adapted and curated for MAC/CCB by Nuria Enguita and Marta Mestre. MAC/CCB, November 27th, 2025 - April 5th, 2026. Video by
The exhibition focuses exclusively on Burle Marx’s public space projects, foregrounding the collective and civic dimension of his work. The scenography was conceived as an extension of the curatorial concept rather than a neutral display system. Emphasising the idea of “lugar de estar” as a place for gathering, lingering, being, by framing the exhibition as an environment to experience rather than simply observe.
A key conceptual reference for the project was the architectural language of the CCB itself. The stone used in the scenographic devices is the same as that employed in the CCB’s public spaces - both in the facade and in the exterior square pavements - thereby invoking this shared, collective ground. By bringing this reference into the gallery, the design anchors the exhibition in its specific site while echoing Burle Marx’s sensitivity to context, material, and the public realm.
Spatially, the design is structured through a sequence of interconnected environments that guide visitors across thematic zones. Instead of rigid divisions, the scenography promotes fluid transitions and visual continuity. Curtains are introduced as a key spatial device, mediating the passage between sections. These textile elements create soft thresholds that both separate and connect spaces, allowing for permeability, changing perspectives, and a more intimate engagement with the works.
The collaboration between the two studios is grounded in an interdisciplinary methodology that merges architecture, exhibition design, and curatorial thinking. The process emphasises dialogue and shared authorship, with the design emerging through a continuous negotiation between space, content, and audience.
