Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement
Sir Isaac Julien’s multichannel film installation Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement (2019) offers a poetic portrait of the leading architect of Brazilian modernism, Lina Bo Bardi (1914–1992). Unfolding in a nonlinear narrative, Julien’s film explores Bo Bardi’s life, work, and legacy, exemplifying her remark that “time is not linear, it is a marvellous entanglement.” A new nine-screen installation envisioned for the Yale Architecture Gallery ignites a conversation between Bo Bardi’s Brazilian landmarks, Julien’s filmic homage, and Paul Rudolph’s Brutalist design for the Yale School of Architecture. In Julien’s loving portrayal, Bo Bardi’s personal history is intertwined with the enduring life of the buildings she designed, which are now embedded in the culture and social fabric of Brazil. Much like Bo Bardi’s expressive architecture, Julien’s film provides space for a wide range of creative practice, including performances by the Academy Award–nominated actor Fernanda Montenegro and her daughter, the Cannes-laureate actor Fernanda Torres; original dance choreographed by Zebrinha and performed by the Balé Folclórico da Bahia; and a commissioned performance by the art collective Araká. Bo Bardi’s individual story is entangled within a cultural ecosystem that celebrates the vibrancy of the arts in Brazil.
About Sir Isaac Julien
Filmmaker and installation artist Sir Isaac Julien KBE RA (b. 1960) rose to fame in the late 1980s following the cult success of his documentary-drama Looking for Langston (1989). Over more than three decades, the artist has explored the narrative potential of film, touching on issues of gender, sexuality, race, migration, and colonial legacies, often through a focus on a single individual or artwork. Julien’s work has been exhibited at museums and galleries throughout Europe and the United States. He has exhibited twice at the Venice Biennale (2015 and 2017), as well as at the 7th Gwangju Bienniale, South Korea (2008); Prospect.1, New Orleans (2008); Performa 07, New York (2007) and documenta11, Kassel (2002). A major survey of Julien’s work, What Freedom is to Me, will be on view at Tate Britain from April to August 2023. Julien has received many honors and awards, including the Royal Academy Charles Wollaston Award (2017). In 2022 he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
About Lina Bo Bardi
Born and educated in Rome, Bo Bardi moved to Brazil in 1946, where she developed a design philosophy rooted in the social function of architecture. Known for her improvisation and use of innovative building materials, Bo Bardi balanced Brazilian vernacular forms with a modern aesthetic. Her belief in the interrelation of all the arts influenced her designs of some of Brazil’s most iconic cultural institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, the São Paolo Museum of Art (MASP), SESC Pompéia, and Teatro Oficina.
Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi—A Marvellous Entanglement is organized by the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale School of Architecture. The exhibition is curated by Andrew Benner, Director of Exhibitions and Senior Critic at the Yale School of Architecture, and Rachel Stratton, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for British Art.
Exhibition Credits
LINA BO BARDI—A MARVELLOUS ENTANGLEMENT | PRODUCTION CREDITS
CAST
LINA BO BARDI: Fernanda Montenegro, Fernanda Torres
HIMSELF: José Celso Martinez Corrêa
MAM BAHIA PERFORMANCE BALÉ FOLCLÓRICO DA BAHIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Walson Botelho, Alan Mendes
CHOREOGRAPHERS: Zebrinha, Roberto Montenegro
DANCERS: Arismar Souza, Cleonides Santos, Gabriel Santos, Jadson Santos, Jefferson Nascimento, Priscila Vaz, Tamirez Amorim, Tiago Lima, Wagner Santana
PERCUSSIONISTS: José Ricardo Dos Santos, Alcides Morais
COATY BUILDING PERFORMANCE PLATAFORMA ÀRÀKÁ
PERFORMERS: Diego Alcântara dos Santos, Laís Lopes, Neemias Santana, Romário Costa, Valdimere Souza
CHOREOGRAPHER: Diego Pinheiro
MUSICIANS: André Oliveira, Gabriel Texeira Penha
FERNANDA MONTENEGRO AND FERNANDA TORRES AGENTS
TALENT AGENT: Carmem Mello
TALENT AGENT ASSISTANT: Elinete Neves
CREW
EDITOR: Adam Finch
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR AND RESEARCHER: Rafaela Mendes Ferreira
PRODUCTION: Ocean Films
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Gustavo Hadba
1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Flavia Zentil
2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Maurício Zattoni
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Claudio Amaral Peixoto
COSTUME DESIGNER: Carol Barreto
STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER: Thorsten Henn
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
PRODUCERS: Cristian Marini (Ocean Films), Zahra Staub (Ocean Films)
BIDDING PRODUCER: Bia De Camillis (Ocean Films)
CONTROLLER: Bárbara Frezza (Ocean Films)
LINE PRODUCER: Sebas Marini (Ocean Films)
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Luciana Oppido
PRODUCTION COORDINATORS: Carolina Napoli, Silene Correa, Lucas Correa de Figueiredo
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR (SALVADOR): Sheila Edite da Silva Gomes
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Márcia Lemos (Ocean Films), Tabatta Jäger (Ocean Films)
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (SALVADOR): Natália Gidi dos Santos
TRAINEE: Sara Serra de Oliveira
FLOOR RUNNERS (SÃO PAULO): Edson Ferreira da Silva, Sandro de Melo Silva, Luiz Eduardo de Queiroz Bretas, John Lennon Alexandre da Silva
RUNNERS (SALVADOR): José Rodrigues da Silva, Albert Santos Lima, Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Santos
SUPPORT PRODUCTION (SALVADOR): Mauricio Cabeça
PROJECTOR OPERATOR (SALVADOR): Davi Gabiru
ART DEPARTMENT
ART DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR: Castor Assunção Tavares
ART DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT: Renata Zbóril
PROP MASTER (SÃO PAULO): Juliano Binoti de Barros
DESIGNER BENIN HOUSE BANNERS: Goya Lopes
ART RUNNER (SÃO PAULO): Bruno Yoshicava
PROPS MASTERS (SALVADOR): Bruno Peixoto, Anderson Miranda
ART RUNNER 1 (SALVADOR): Alan dos Santos Cerqueira
ART RUNNER 2 (SALVADOR): Augusto Alonso
PICTURE RETOUCH (SALVADOR): Ailton Silva
CAMERA DEPARTMENT
STEADICAM OPERATOR: Maoma Faria
1ST AC (1ST UNIT): Leo Gonzaga
2ND AC (1ST UNIT, SÃO PAULO): Yuri Seid
VIDEO ASSIST (1ST UNIT): Leonardo Silva Pereira Pinto
1ST AC (2ND UNIT): Catarina Luiz Metzner
2 ND AC (2ND UNIT): Guilherme de Souza Silva
2 ND AC (1ST UNIT, SALVADOR): Daniel Carvalho
LOGGER: Rafael Belli Canova
DRONE OPERATOR (SESC): Alberto Kalin, Youssef Matulaitis
ASSISTANT DRONE OPERATOR (SESC): Diego Rinaldi Mendes
TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR (SÃO PAULO): Fábio Sanches Pelegrini Brito
TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR (SALVADOR): Diane Luz
SOUND DEPARTMENT
SOUND TECHNICIANS (SÃO PAULO): Pablo Aranda, Rodrigo Macedo, Marquinhos Ribeiro
SOUND TECHNICIAN (SALVADOR): Ana Penna
BOOM MAN (SALVADOR): Cristina da Luz Lima
LIGHTING DEPARTMENT
GAFFER: Jubel Ferreira Magalhaes
1ST ASSISTANT: Jeovan Ronilson dos Santos
2ND ASSISTANT: Valter Torres dos Santos, Jefferson Ferreira da Silva, Adelson Albergaria Costa, Hudson Cainn Bonfim Costa
GENERATOR (SALVADOR): José Carlos Barros, Magno
GRIP DEPARTMENT
KEY GRIP (SÃO PAULO): Carlos Gomes Fidelis
BEST BOY (SÃO PAULO): Fabiano Oliveira Dias
BEST BOY (SALVADOR): Lander Humildes Costa
2ND ASSISTANTS (SÃO PAULO): Orlando Jesus Francisco, Paulo Daniel Campos
2ND ASSISTANT (SALVADOR): Thiago Pereira Borges
BOOM MAN (SALVADOR): Cristina da Cruz Lima
WARDROBE DEPARTMENT
WARDROBE STYLIST: Bia Salgado
STYLIST ASSISTANT: Maria Alice Salgado de Miranda, Renata Pina de Cerqueira, Luciane Paim Ferreira
COSTUME DESIGNER ASSISTANT: Teresa Abreu
COSTUME WORKSHOP ASSISTANTS: Claudia Soares, Joice Fischer
COSTUME PRODUCTION: Nanci Meire, Priscila Bastos
PURCHASING ASSISTANT: Leda Villas Boas
DESIGN ASSISTANT: Andreza Pires, Carla Calixto, Juliana Tavares
SEAMSTRESS: Tânia Neves, Valda Oliveira
COSTUME PROPS: Ju Fonseca
COSTUME PROPS ASSISTANT: Ulli Vianna
MAKE UP & HAIR DEPARTMENT
MAKE UP ARTIST & HAIR STYLIST: Martin Macias Trujillo
MAKE UP & HAIR ASSISTANT: Cristiane Carvalho
HAIR STYLIST (SALVADOR): Mukunã (Claudio)
EXTRAS & SECURITY DEPARTMENT
LADEIRA DA MISERICÓRDIA PROCESSION: Adeline Seixas Alves, Adriano Lopes Chagas, Alana Gabriela da Conceição Santos, Alessandra B. Cerqueira, Ana Caroline Silva Neves, Ana Cláudia dos Santos Borba, Ana Leticia Rodrigues Ribeiro, Anandeliza dos Santos Pinheiro, Andreza Caroline Silva, Anita de Jesus Ceto, Anna Caroline dos Santos Borba, Brenda Silva dos Santos, Carla Elaine Neves dos Santos, Cláudia Leal Ribeiro, Cressieler Catarina S.N. Santos, Debora Maria Nascimento Soares, Diana Elaine de Souza Pereira, Diele Ferreira Fiuza, Eliana de Jesus Araújo, Elzeni Souza Dias, Emeli Neves dos Santos, Géssica Emili Oliveira Couto, Gilmara Souza Lopes, Girlene de S. Neves, Jaguaracir Alves dos Santos, Jailto Oliveira Conceição, Jamile França dos Santos, Jamli Barreto Cruz, Jefferson dos Santos, Jefferson Rodrigo B. de Almeida, Jesse de Jesus Lima Junior, José Sócrates Olavo de Souza, Júlia L. Casemiro da Silva, Juliana Vianna de Campos, Laís dos Santos, Leidiane Araújo Alves, Lia Patrícia Andrade de Jesus, Luana Santana Ferreira, Luis Bruno Lima de Moura, Luiz Otávio Araújo dos Santos, Marcelo Conceição Bonfim, Maria Bárbara Teles da Cruz, Maria Helena Bispo dos Santos, Norma Ferrreira S. Ricardo, Rafaela Rangel dos Santos, Raquel M. O. dos Santos, Rita Maria Montenego Dória, Rosalice Maria da Paz Rocha, Sara S. Rocha, Silvia Mendes Pereira, Sueli Conceição Ferreira, Tatiana dos Santos Rodrigues, Valdemiro Souza de Assis
SESC POMPEIA: Amanda Soares, Andressa Caila, Arthur Pereira, Arthur Tymchenko, Fábio Antunes Maxini, Luiz Roberto Maciel, Luiza Cordeiro, Ricardo de Souza Rodrigues, Sandra Salamanca, Vanessa Rubino Valério
SECURITY (SÃO PAULO): Carlos Antonio Virgilino
SECURITY CREW (SALVADOR): Gervásio Benedito Santos Rosário, Arivaldo Mercês Vieira, Adenilson Rosa de Brito
FIREFIGHTER (SALVADOR): Arthur Barreto
POST-PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Vanessa Myrie
POST-PRODUCTION COORDINATOR (ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO): Manon Schwich
GRADING & ONLINE: The Moving Picture Company
COLOURIST (MPC): Jean Clément Soret
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ellora Chowdury
SENIOR PRODUCER (MPC): Kayleigh Dugdale
SUBTITLING: SubTI
PROJECT MANAGER: Valeria Gallo
TRANSLATION: Michael Marsden
ARCHIVE CLEARANCE: Julia Franceschini, Matthew Sanger, Pedro Vilain
ONLINE AND DELIVERY: Halo Post
ONLINE EDITOR (HALO): Adam Hall
POST-PRODUCTION PRODUCER (HALO): Will Garbutt
SOUND STUDIO: Real World Studios
RE-RECORDING MIXER: Karl Mainzer, Rowan Jennings
MUSIC COMPOSITION: Maria D’Alvear, Thomas Ragsdale
ADDITIONAL SOUND COMPOSITION: Andy Cowton
ADDITIONAL MUSIC: Jana Winderen - Heated Parts 4 & 5, Bertolt Brecht – Die Moritat von Mackie Messer, Thomas Ragsdale - Seventh King, Dorival Caymmi - Maracangalha, Smokey Hormel - Sous les Tropiques, Joao Parahyba - Piraquara, Pontos de Macumba - Exu Marabo
EXHIBITION FABRICATION: Andy Healy
AUDIOVISUAL MANAGER: Tom Cullen
AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT: ProAV
AUDIOVISUAL SUPERVISOR: Jorma Saarikko
AUDIOVISUAL TECHNICIAN: Eric Brun, Jarmo Kopponen
ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO: Juanita Boxill, James Keith, Vladimir Seput, Paul Smith
SUPPORTED BY
Instituto Bardi / Casa de Vidro, São Paulo
Linda Pace Foundation, Ruby City, San Antonio
Sammlung Wemhöner, Herford
Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation in collaboration with Outset Contemporary Art Fund, London and Toronto
Graham Foundation, Chicago
Goethe Institut, Salvador
Victoria Miro Gallery, London/Venice | Nara Roesler Gallery, São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro/New York | Ron Mandos Gallery, Amsterdam | Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
FILMED ON LOCATION IN LINA BO BARDI’S BUILDINGS
SESC Pompeia, São Paulo
Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP)
Teatro Oficina, São Paulo
Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia / Solar do Unhão, Salvador
Coaty, Ladeira da Misericórdia, Salvador
Fundação Gregório de Mattos, Salvador
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Casa do Benin, Salvador
Fundação Pierre Verger, Salvador
Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Salvador
Plataforma Araka, Salvador
ISAAC JULIEN STUDIO
SPECIAL THANKS
Alex Baradel (Pierre Verger Institute)
André Vainer
Adriano Pedrosa
Carol Weinbaum
Candida Gertler OBE
Danilo Miranda
Fernanda Souza (Coaty)
Felipe Dias Rego (Coaty)
Giancarlo Latorraca
Hans Ulrich Obrist
Heiner and Elke Wemhöner
Leonel Henckes
Mahima Luna Macchione
Manfred Stoffl
Marina Grinover (Base3 Arquitetos)
Sol Camacho
Solange Farkas
Waldick Jatobá
Zeuler R. M. de A. Lima
