Brazil-France 2025 season: Cruzeiro do Sul exhibition at the Senate Orangery

Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles presents his conceptual work, Cruzeiro do Sul, at the Orangerie du Sénat, from July 3 to 14, 2025, as part of the Saison culturelle Brésil-France 2025. An immersion between native myths and colonial history to be discovered in the heart of the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Discover a work of art that can't be seen or seen alone... TheOrangerie du Sénat welcomes Cruzeiro do Sul, an emblematic work by Cildo Meireles, a major figure in Brazilian conceptual art, from July 3 to 14, 2025. Presented for the first time in France, this unique installation explores the links between indigenous myths and colonial history, as part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season.

A unique work of art for an immersive experience

TheOrangerie du Sénat is transformed into a space for reflection. This installation, designed by Cildo Meireles between 1969 and 1970, is presented thanks to a collaboration between Lab'Bel and the Senate.

The work, a 9mm cube made of oak and pine, sacred woods to the Tupi people, evokes the legend that fire was born from the friction of these two species. This apparent minimalism conceals a symbolic depth, questioning the relationship between the northern hemisphere and Brazil, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge.

A reflection on history and culture

Cruzeiro do Sul refers to the eponymous constellation, emblem of the Brazilian flag, historically used by sailors to orient themselves in the southern hemisphere. The work juxtaposes an indigenous, oral and resistant founding myth with an evocation of the colonial conquest and its geopolitical stakes.

This choice to present a single work, rather than a retrospective, is in keeping with Meireles' approach to humiliminimalism, a re-reading of American Minimalism through the prism of Latin America. The installation invites visitors to a sensory experience, in which the perceived object and its symbolic significance are gradually revealed.

A must-see exhibition for the Brazil-France 2025 Season

To enhance the experience, a never-before-seen film about the work and the artist will be screened on site. In addition, a round table entitled " À l'échelle du geste " will be held on July 9 at 7pm at the Maison de l'Amérique latine. Moderated by Silvia Guerra, co-curator of the exhibition, it will bring together Paulo Miyada and Vanessa Pastorini to discuss the artistic and political context of the work's creation.

This exhibition is for everyone: contemporary art enthusiasts, those curious about Brazilian history, or simply visitors in search of a unique cultural experience. The Jardin du Luxembourg, in the heart of Paris, is the ideal setting for this artistic immersion. Ready to immerse yourself in the Brazil-France 2025 Season?

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