PRESS KIT

The Lucas Nogueira Garcez Pavilion, the original name of the building popularly known as the Oca, due to its resemblance to an indigenous dwelling called “oca” in the Tupi-Guarani language, has an internal area of more than 10,000 square meters within Ibirapuera Park. Conceived by architect Oscar Niemeyer and built for the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the city of São Paulo in 1954, the Oca is a venue for exhibitions. It housed the Aeronautics Museum of São Paulo and the Folklore Museum. In 2000 it underwent a restoration to host the exhibition Mostra do Redescobrimento: Brasil +500 [Rediscovery Exhibition: Brazil +500]. Since 2010 it was managed by the Museu da Cidade [City Museum], along with the Municipal Culture Secretariat, and became a venue for paid temporary exhibitions.

From May 24th – opening to the public one day later – to August 13th, the Oca will host Ways to See Brazil: 30 Years of Itaú Cultural, an exhibition composed of more than 750 works from the Itaú Unibanco Art Collection celebrating Itaú Cultural’s three decades of existence. In exchange, the institute will carry out a series of maintenance activities to update the exhibition space, without changing any of its characteristics.

Always complying with the criteria of preservation agencies, the maintenance work that is being carried out at the Oca involves the external coatings, including the treatment of fissures and cracks, waterproofing and painting of the façade. Internally, its 34 windows were checked and broken or cracked glass was replaced and the frames were repaired. Work was also done in the restrooms, replacing tiles, metals and coatings, always respecting the features of the original design.

In terms of security, the entire central alarm and fire prevention systems are being updated. The air conditioning system is being repaired, as well as the building’s humidity controls, in accordance with the conversation needs of the works on display.

Itaú Cultural was also responsible for the transportation of works belonging to the Pavilion of Brazilian Cultures that were stored on the Oca’s upper floor. They were temporarily stored there while their own home building, next to the former Prodam, was undergoing renovation.

INCREASED STAFF

In addition to coordinating the Oca’s maintenance staff, Itaú Cultural has doubled the number of its staff that takes care of the Ways of Seeing Brazil: 30 Years of Itaú Cultural exhibition. Between 80 to 100 persons work exclusively on this exhibition until its closing on August 13th, in maintenance, installation and de-installation, production, educational programs, security, firemen, medical aid – there is an infirmary on the ground floor and, next to the building, an ambulance on duty.

The Niemeyer-designed building, an icon of São Paulo architecture, located in Ibirapuera Park, will retain the same exterior, but gets maintenance essential for its conservation, such as treatment of infiltrations, which undermined the building, waterproofing, new glass and series of improvements to upgrade its infrastructure.

Oca is renovated to host the exhibition Ways to See Brazil:

30 Years of Itaú Cultural

2017 - DESENVOLVIDO PELA CONTEÚDO COMUNICAÇÃO