The AICA Podcast, created and hosted by Mihaela Ion, is back with its fifth episode, featuring Lisbeth Rebollo Gonçalves the Honorary President of AICA International and former President of AICA International.
The first part of the discussion focuses on the two mandates Lisbeth served as International President of AICA. During her tenure, she worked to enhance global collaboration among member organizations and underscored the importance of art as a critical element of cultural identity and dialogue. Her efforts included prioritizing cross-border partnerships, sharing best practices, and advocating for the recognition of artists and cultural practitioners as essential contributors to societal development.
In this episode, Lisbeth also delves into the role of art mediators in shaping our understanding of art criticism, highlighting how their insights can elevate the audience's experience during curated events. Drawing from her own curatorial experiences, she demonstrates how effective art mediation bridges the gap between artists and viewers, enriching discussions about artworks and fostering deeper appreciation and engagement.
The final part of the podcast centers on the São Paulo Biennial, which took inspiration from the Venice Biennale and aimed to establish Brazil on the international art stage. By emphasizing contemporary art and showcasing both local and international artists, the Biennial has become a key platform for innovation and exchange, reflecting Brazil's socio-political landscape and cultural identity. Lisbeth shares specific historical moments from the São Paulo Biennial, providing unique insights into its evolution and significance.
About the Moderator: Mihaela Ion
Mihaela Ion holds a Ph.D. in History and is a curator, cultural manager, and art researcher based in Bucharest. Since 2021, she has been an AICA member and has served as an International Board Member since 2022, as well as being part of the Digital Strategies Committee. Over the past 17 years, she has presented papers on Communist Art, Cultural Wars, and contemporary artworks at leading conferences across Europe. Mihaela collaborates with several art galleries and museums throughout the continent. Her Ph.D. thesis focuses on the heritage of communist artworks. She has had the opportunity to work as a cultural manager in London with body>data>space and in Paris, Sélestat, Strasbourg, and Nancy during her Courants du Monde grant from the French Ministry of Culture. In 2010, she co-founded Atelierul Magazine, an active international online and offline platform fostering intercultural dialogue between design creators and the public.
About the Speaker: Lisbeth Rebollo Goncalves
Lisbeth Rebollo Goncalves is the Honorary President of AICA International. She holds a master's and PhD at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. With a scholarship from the USP-COFECUB program, she conducted research about Art Exhibition’s Scenography in France and Brazil. She is a professor at the Faculty of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, supervising master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students. In the graduate field, professor at PROLAM - Latin American Studies Program and at the Aesthetics and Art History Program. She has been an art researcher since 1980 and curator of exhibitions since 1994. Between 1994 to 1998 and from 2006 to 2010, she was the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of São Paulo.
Lisbeth has published numerous books, essays in exhibition catalogues, and articles in newspapers and specialized magazines. She has received awards for her books as well as for her curatorial work. Additionally, she coordinated the Art Criticism Collection published by the Brazilian Association of Art Critics and has served as an editorial advisor and corresponding editor for ArtNexus magazine (ISSN 0122-1744).