Vila Velha is an ecological paradise and one of the most important conservation units in Brazil. Its history, full of curiosities, presents a unique natural composition in the world, with sandstone trails and ancient rock formations. To "compete" with such a powerful nature through an art installation implies modesty.

In this way, with a design by the Paraná-born artist and architect Fernando Canalli, a type of circular mandala was created around a large, ancient central stone, leaving space for contemporary works. These are not gigantic, but on a human scale, close to the visitor, respecting the magic of the surrounding nature, in a respectful balance.

 It's always important to experience your generation and understand the new creative thinking of our world. Heritage is the fruit of generations speaking of their visions: present and future. In this project, it's very challenging, but also intelligent, to perceive the perspective of artists speaking to us about such a special place. We are at a critical moment in the Anthropocene, where nature is in danger. It's good to know how artists speak of this through their works, a way of speaking poetically about the subject without frightening anyone.

The “MON without Walls – Art in the Open Air” project, which broke the physical limits of the Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) by bringing works of art to the gardens, is now going even further. Designated a Historical and Artistic Heritage site of the State of Paraná, the Vila Velha State Park will host previously unseen works of art, in partnership with the Museum.

 The "MON without Walls – Vila Velha" initiative is from the Government of Paraná, through the Water and Land Institute, linked to the Secretariat for Sustainable Development, Soul Parques, and the Oscar Niemeyer Museum.

 The exhibition is curated by Marc Pottier and conceptualized by Fernando Canalli. The participating artists are: Gustavo Utrabo, Tom Lisboa, Kulykirida Menihaku, Sonia Dias, Denise Milan, and Alexandre Vogler.

Inaugurated in 2024, the "MON Without Walls – Art in the Open Air" project broke the physical limits of the Oscar Niemeyer Museum's walls and embraced the public. The initiative has become a permanent invitation with interactive works of art in the outdoor area, inspiring the public and encouraging them to enter the MON.

The project, now in a new phase, in line with the state government's objective of disseminating art and culture throughout Paraná, brings this unprecedented artistic intervention to Vila Velha State Park.

 By bringing works of art to where the population is, in addition to sensitizing, raising awareness to the general public, we offer an environment for pause, deceleration, and inner reconnection. With this achievement, MON inaugurates a new chapter in its history, using all its expertise to reach even newer audiences and spaces, disseminating art.

Madeira piranheira, urucum, carvão, resina de ingá e concha de caramujo
60 x 180 cm

Totem.Tatu e Totem Urubu.Rei - Kulykirida Mehinaku

Vidro Laminado sobre estrutura metálica 
400 x 150 x 150cm

Imaginei um Vento Pintado – Gustavo Utrabo

Aço corten sobre base de areia 
110 x 300 cm

PARQUE ESTADUAL DE VILA VELHA
Rodovia BR-376, Km 515 
Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa - PR, 84000-000

Vila Velha State Park will host an outdoor art installation, a project of the Oscar Niemeyer Museum

 The “MON without Walls – Vila Velha” exhibition is curated by Marc Pottier and conceptualized by Fernando Canalli. The participating artists are: Gustavo Utrabo, Tom Lisboa, Kulykirida Menihaku, Sonia Dias, Denise Milan, and Alexandre Vogler. The opening will be on February 25th at 3 PM.

“Bringing works of art to Vila Velha State Park through ‘MON without Walls’ expands access to culture and integrates art, natural heritage, and territory. This initiative exemplifies the Paraná State Government’s commitment to decentralizing cultural policies and ensuring that art is present in different spaces throughout the state,” says Luciana Casagrande Pereira, Secretary of State for Culture.

“With this achievement, MON inaugurates a new chapter in its history, using all its expertise to reach even newer audiences and spaces, disseminating art,” says MON's CEO, Juliana Vosnika.

 Inaugurated in 2024, the "MON Without Walls – Art in the Open Air" project broke the physical limits of the Museum's walls and embraced the public. The initiative has become a permanent invitation with interactive works of art in the outdoor area, inspiring the public and encouraging them to enter the MON.

“The project, now in a new phase, in line with the state government's objective of disseminating art and culture throughout Paraná, brings an unprecedented artistic intervention to Vila Velha Park in partnership with the Museum,” informs Juliana.

 “When we bring works of art to where the population is, in addition to sensitizing the general public, who may not have the habit of entering a museum, we offer an environment of pause, of slowing down, of inner reconnection,” he says. “We understand that art increasingly helps with health.”

 Juliana comments that health professionals have been prescribing visits to museums and that research in psychology, art therapy, and cultural studies shows that visiting museums reduces stress, stimulates positive emotions, and promotes well-being. "In addition to strengthening identity and a sense of belonging, art allows connections with culture, memory, and collective narratives, fundamental elements for psychological well-being," she states.

Vila Velha State Park is an ecological paradise and one of the most important environmental conservation units in Brazil. In addition to a rich history full of curiosities, it boasts a unique natural composition in the world, with sandstone trails and ancient rock formations.

The curator, Marc Pottier, explains that the site also has many legends. "It used to be called Itacueretaba, or 'extinct city of stones,' according to the Apiaba people who lived there," he says. He also highlights that some rocks have unique shapes, such as a cup, sphinx, boot, turtle, Indian head, bottle, camel, and ship's prow. "Between these historical cliffs and the curious shapes they contain, one finds unique themes for reflection for contemporary artists," he comments.

 “The Oscar Niemeyer Museum, through ‘MON without Walls – Art in the Open Air’ (which aims to invite artists to create site-specific works in the Museum's gardens), called upon a group of artists to create a dialogue with this very special universe, thus giving their interpretations of the uniqueness of the place,” says the curator.

The Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) is a state-owned property linked to the State Secretariat of Culture. The institution houses important references of national and international artistic production in the areas of visual arts, architecture and design, in addition to grand Asian and African collections. In total, the collection has approximately 14,000 works of art, housed in a space of over 35,000 square meters of built area, which makes the MON the largest art museum in Latin America.

Located in Ponta Grossa-PR, just one hour from Curitiba, Vila Velha State Park is the first state park created in Paraná, in 1953, and is currently a concession from the Government of the State of Paraná, through the Water and Land Institute, to Soul Vila Velha, a company of the Soul Parques Group.

The ticket offices are open until 3 pm. The park recommends arriving in the morning so that visitors can explore its attractions – Unimed Sandstone Trail, Furnas and Lagoa Dourada – enjoy the various gastronomic options and also take advantage of the adventure attractions – Zip line, Tree climbing and Cycling.

More information: https://parquevilavelha.com.br/

“MON Without Walls – Open-Air Art – Vila Velha”
Opening: February 25th, 3 PM
Vila Velha State Park
BR-376 Highway, Km 515, Jardim Vila Velha, Ponta Grossa - PR

 Oscar Niemeyer Museum
www.museuoscarniemeyer.org.br

A iniciativa “MON sem Paredes – Arte ao Ar Livre”, projeto que rompeu os limites físicos do Museu Oscar Niemeyer (MON) ao levar obras de arte aos jardins, realiza a sua primeira itinerância. O Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, tombado pelo Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico do Estado do Paraná, recebe obras de arte inéditas, numa parceria com o Museu. 
A iniciativa do “MON sem Paredes – Vila Velha” é do Governo do Paraná, por meio do Instituto Água e Terra, vinculado à Secretaria do Desenvolvimento Sustentável, da Soul Parques e do Museu Oscar Niemeyer. A curadoria do projeto é de Marc Pottier e o conceito de Fernando Canalli. Os artistas participantes são: Gustavo Utrabo, Tom Lisboa, Kulykirida Menihaku, Sonia Dias, Denise Milan e Alexandre Vogler. 

MON sem Paredes - Vila Velha

The traveling exhibition “Poty portrays Paraná” brings works by artist Poty Lazzarotto (1924–1998) to the Noble Hall of the Legislative Assembly of Paraná, an initiative by the Oscar Niemeyer Museum. Curated by Ricardo Freire, the show features a selection of 50 paintings, drawings, illustrations, and panel studies—part of the over 4,000 works by the artist that constitute the MON’s permanent collection.

Having received the responsibility to safeguard and preserve his precious legacy, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum has become a reference point for this brilliant Brazilian artist. One of its missions now is to go beyond the walls of MON and make his work reach an ever-growing audience.

Having received the responsibility to safeguard and preserve the precious legacy of Poty Lazzarotto, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) has become a reference in the work of this brilliant Brazilian artist. One of our missions now is to go beyond the Museum’s walls and ensure that his work reaches an ever-growing audience.

On March 29, the anniversary of Curitiba—and coincidentally the birthday of artist Poty Lazzarotto—MON received the largest collection ever donated to the institution: approximately 4,500 pieces. The year was 2022.

Since then, MON has not only been the guardian of the works but also the facilitator of access to them. This collection includes over 3,000 drawings and 366 prints, as well as tapestries, carvings, serigraphs, and sculptures, among others. The donation was made directly by the artist’s late brother, João Lazzarotto.

These works further enrich MON’s collection, which has quintupled in size in recent years and now features approximately 14,000 artworks in a space of over 35,000 square meters of built area, making MON the largest art museum in Latin America. 

Poty Lazzarotto
Untitled, 1989
Lithograph on paper	
Collection Oscar Niemeyer Museum
Poty Lazzarotto Collection – Donated by João Lazzarotto

Untitled, 1994 
Ink, charcoal, and water-based paint on paper
Collection Oscar Niemeyer Museum
Poty Lazzarotto Collection – Donated by João Lazzarotto

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF PARANÁ
Praça Nossa Senhora de Salete, s/n - Centro Cívico, Curitiba - PR
Free admission from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm

MON presents an exhibition of works by Poty Lazzarotto at the Legislative Assembly of Paraná

The Oscar Niemeyer Museum is presenting an exhibition of works by Curitiba artist Poty Lazzarotto (1924–1998) at the Legislative Assembly of Paraná. “Poty portrays Paraná,” curated by Ricardo Freire, includes 50 paintings, drawings, illustrations, and panel studies, which are part of the more than 4,000 works by the artist in the MON’s permanent collection.

“By being entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding and preserving Poty Lazzarotto’s precious legacy, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum has become a reference point for this brilliant Brazilian artist,” says MON’s director-president, Juliana Vosnika. “One of our missions now is to go beyond the museum’s walls and ensure his work reaches an ever-larger and more diverse audience,” she adds.

In his drawings and prints, Poty portrayed our State. “The development of Paraná begins with the Indigenous peoples belonging to the Tupi-Guarani and Jê language groups. Among the ancestors of our land, history—interwoven with legend—has preserved records of heroes such as Chief Guairacá, defender of the territory, and of fantastical figures like those involved in the legend of the Iguaçu Falls,” explains the curator.

The selected works explore the State’s chronology, highlighting the tropeiros, the arrival of European immigrants, the establishment of the railway in Paraná, and industrialization, among other aspects playfully depicted by the artist.

Since childhood, Poty’s drawing already hinted at the power of his graphic storytelling. In 1942, he entered the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro, where he was introduced to printmaking by Carlos Oswald. Graduating in 1946, he earned a scholarship to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Upon returning to Brazil in 1948, Poty devoted himself not only to creating art but also to art education: in 1950, he organized the first printmaking course at the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) and taught courses in Bahia, Recife, and Curitiba.

Starting in the 1950s, his art expanded monumentally into public spaces through mural projects. Among his most iconic works are: “Historical Development of Paraná” (1953), the Teatro Guaíra mural (1969), and the mural for the Memorial da América Latina in São Paulo (1988).

On March 29, 2022, the anniversary of Curitiba—and coincidentally Poty Lazzarotto’s birthday—MON received the largest collection ever donated to the institution: approximately 4,500 pieces. 

This collection includes over 3,000 drawings and 366 prints, as well as tapestries, carvings, serigraphs, and sculptures, among others. The donation was made directly by the artist’s brother, João Lazzarotto.

These works further enrich MON’s collection, which has quintupled in size in recent years, establishing the Museum as one of the most important in Latin America. 

Poty Lazzarotto (Curitiba, 1924–1998) began his path in drawing, later delving into printmaking, where he became a master and creator of the first printmaking course at MASP. Much of his art is biographical, from childhood memories of trains and tracks to depictions of Curitiba’s characters and the settings they inhabit.

Poty’s drawings and prints are direct and straightforward. With this spontaneous style, he illustrated several works of Brazilian literature, such as “Os sertões” by Euclides da Cunha and “Grande Sertão: Veredas” by Guimarães Rosa. He also brought to life the controversial Curitibanos depicted in the short stories of another Paraná icon, Dalton Trevisan. 

His presence wasn’t limited to literature: Poty left his mark across Curitiba through his monuments and tiled or exposed concrete panels—a practice that began with the panel “Historical Development of Paraná” in 1953 at Praça 19 de Dezembro. Other examples include the panels on Nestor de Castro Alley, where he depicts, on one side, a past Curitiba, and on the other, the city’s evolution, arising among pine forests, inhabited by immigrants, and standing out for its urban planning. 

The collection donated to the Oscar Niemeyer Museum encompasses all of this work. It contains originals often reproduced in books and other publications about the artist, records from his 1967 Xingu expedition, and insights into a nearly unknown side of Poty. It also includes sketches, projects, and studies, allowing us to see the evolution of his style from youth to maturity. In this way, the collection is a true ethnographic material about the artist. 

Of course, the collection also comprises completed works like drawings, woodcuts, lithographs, metal prints, wood carvings, and concrete blocks: thousands of pieces that clearly demonstrate the artist’s versatility. Through Poty, we witness the art created and still being made in Paraná. 

Preserving not only this artist’s legacy but also his memory is, above all, a duty—one that the Oscar Niemeyer Museum has taken on and accomplished brilliantly.

The traveling exhibition “Poty portrays Paraná” brings works by the artist Poty Lazzarotto (1924–1998) to the Noble Hall of the Legislative Assembly of Paraná, an initiative by the Oscar Niemeyer Museum. Curated by Ricardo Freire, the show features a selection of 50 paintings, drawings, illustrations, and panel studies—part of the over 4,000 works by the artist in MON’s permanent collection.
Having received the responsibility to safeguard and preserve his precious legacy, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum has become a reference point for this brilliant Brazilian artist. One of its missions now is to go beyond the walls of MON and make his work reach an ever-growing audience.

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MON without Walls

Poty

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