With the “Terra” pavilion, Brazil won the Golden Lion for best national participation at the 18th Architecture Biennial. The awards took place this Saturday. The Brazilian pavilion, curated by Gabriela De Matos and Paulo Tavares, focuses on the role of the past in understanding the future, with the earth as a guiding thread.
The Brazilian pavilion is “an exhibition of research that focuses on the philosophies and ideas of the indigenous and black population with regard to forms of reparation”, according to the justification for the award.
The exhibition’s jury, chaired by Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli, awarded the Golden Lion for the best participation to the architecture office “Daar”, an architectural collective founded by Alessandro Petti and Sandi Hila, for the project “Secção de Ligações Dangerosas”. The award was given “for years of commitment to deep political engagement with architectural practices and learning about decolonization in Palestine and Europe”.
Nigerian artist, designer and architect Demas Nwoko was awarded the Golden Lion by the jury. Demas Nwoko studied at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria. He was one of the first Nigerian architects to criticize Nigeria’s dependence on the West for imported materials, goods and ideas, the statement said. He is therefore also committed to using local resources.
The Architecture Biennale of the city of Lagoa is considered the most important presentation of world architecture. The 18th edition of the international architecture show runs until November 26th.