Group exhibition at the former Matarazzo Hospital in São Paulo opens its doors during the inauguration of the 31st São Paulo Biennial

Last September 9th, the former Umberto Prima Hospital, on São Paulo's central Avenida Paulista, reopened with a site-specific group show titled Made by… Feito por brasileiros", featuring works by more than 100 Brazilian and foreign artists who bring back the history of the hospital. The 27,000-square meter institution, known as the "Matarazzo Hospital", was built in 1904 with funds provided by one of the city's most prominent industrialist families (Italian in origin), and it was the place were more than a million paulistas were born. It had been condemned for 20 years. The exhibition brought together, with new works, artists like Vik Muniz, Arthur Lescher, Hector Zamora (Mexico), and Joana Vasconcelos (Portugal), and was partially financed with private contributions of up to US$3.2 million. It opened as part of the inauguration of the 31st São Paulo Biennial. While some Brazilian artists and art historians rose their voices in protest, finding the initiative a "publicity argument to legitimize a shopping mall" (Silas Marti, "Empresário que comprou el Hospital Matarazzo fala sobre centro cultural", Folha de São Paulo, 9/9/2014) and refusing to participate, many others expressed their support. French industrialist Alexandre Allard, Director of the Allard Group, is responsible for this artistic initiative ultimately intended to transform the building, purchased for US$117 million in June of 2011, into a commercial architectural project to be called Cidade Matarazzo; it will feature a luxury hotel, galleries, restaurants, and theatres. The project's final budget is estimated at US1.4 billion, but the greatest difficulty lies in obtaining the public permits required for the remodeling, as the building is a city landmark. The request to lift the city's historic-preservation requirements was presented to the state office in charge of protecting São Paulo's legacy, Condephaat, three years ago; recently, the project was authorized to tear down and remodel a section of the building. For more information, visit the Allard Group page: http://www.groupe-allard.com