Burle Marx Exhibit in CAF Gallery

Roberto Burle Marx rewrote the rules of the game, reimagining urban spaces, intertwining functionality with nature. An exhibition dedicated to his landscaping work will open on Tuesday, September 24, in Artespacio, the art gallery of CAF—development bank of Latin America—in La Paz, Bolivia.

The exhibition entitled “Roberto Burle Marx, naturalist and landscaper,” sponsored by the Brazilian Embassy and CAF, features 60 photographs and footage of Burle Marx landscapes curated by José Tabacow, a landscaping specialist.

About the artist

Although he was born in Sao Paulo, Roberto Burle Marx is often associated with his adoptive city, Rio de Janeiro, where he settled upon his return to Brazil after his formative years in Germany. While his works are present in various Brazilian cities such as Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo, his legacy is most notable in Rio, which is adorned with several of his most iconic designs, such as the Copacabana promenade. He also left a mark in other countries, with memorable projects such as the Unesco garden in Paris and Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard.

“The gardens give people back the green that the city stole from them,” Burle Marx used to repeat as a vital mantra. As a self-taught botanist, he embarked on numerous expeditions around Brazil, from the Amazon to the Pantanal, searching for new plants for the outstanding collection he kept on his property in Guaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro. On his travels, he discovered more than 100 new species, many of which were named after him.

His input is crucial in understanding landscaping as an art form, but his visionary character also made him a pioneer in introducing ecological concepts into his designs and way of life.

The exhibition will be open to the public from September 24 to October 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Artespacio CAF is located on Av. Arce No. 2915, Esq. Clavijo, San Jorge.