The magazine Arte Hoje published a dossier of brief texts by Brazilian critics Aline Figueiredo, Aracy Amaral, Radha Abramo, Frederico Morais, Olívio Tavares Araújo, and Roberto Pontual; and by artists José Resende, Loio Persio, Anna Bella Geiger, and Fábio Magalhães. From various perspectives, the writings address the topics discussed at the seminar “Política e processos de amostragem da arte,” held in 1977 in the framework of the XI Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas. In addition to the statements made by major Brazilian critics from the seventies, the document features illustrations of the works mentioned and a theoretical article on Concretism written by Waldemar Cordeiro that is illustrated with works of his authorship. 

The texts gathered here formed part of the seminar entitled “Politics and Process as Art Show” held in Campinas (state of São Paulo) from November 21 to 26, 1977, during the XI Salão de Arte Contemporânea. The event consisted of five sessions in which ten texts were read and discussed, and a roundtable featuring the authors of the texts in this dossier. The topics of discussion were the most salient features of the art system in the seventies, specifically the institutions of the museum and the academy, art salons, and the role of government, art dealers, critics, artists, and the work of art. The seminar formed part of a larger process that attempted to understand and to reformulate the art system in Brazil in relation to topics that concerned a great deal of artistic, critical, and intellectual production during a decade of great transformation.

The texts and statements by artists and critics contained in this dossier outline the major concerns of Brazilian art in the seventies. The authors of these brief texts: critics Aline Figueiredo, Aracy Amaral, Radha Abramo, Frederico Morais, Olívio Tavares Araújo, and Roberto Pontual; and artists José Resende, Loio Persio, Anna Bella Geiger, and Fábio Magalhães, were all major figures during that pivotal historical moment. [For further information on the Brazilian art system, see ICAA digital archive (doc. nos. 1110602 and 1110554)].