Pipilotti Rist imagines Edenic delights at Instituto Inhotim

Instituto Inhotim, a Brazilian contemporary art museum, is staging a solo exhibition of the work of Pipilotti Rist, showcasing her 2005 audiovisual installation Homo Sapiens Sapiens as the centerpiece in Galeria Fonte. The Swiss visual artist originally made this piece in 2005 in the expansive gardens of Inhotim, presenting it as Switzerland's contribution to the Venice Biennale.

Rist's installation is installed on the ceiling of the exhibition space, with beds, beanbags and rugs strewn underneath, inviting visitors to lie down and immerse themselves into its hypnotic embrace. Rist – whose artistic vision revolves around the female body, expressed through differing surreal, intimate and abstract manifestations – reimagines the story of the Garden of Eden, following a naked Eve (played by dancer Ewelina Guzik) in her exploration of this garden of sensual pleasure.

When it was presented at the Venice Biennale in 2005, Homo Sapiens Sapiens was originally projected onto the loft and ceiling of the Church of San Stae on the Grand Canal of Venice, superimposing its moving images onto the Baroque frescoes and sculptures depicting Christian saints and martyrs. The projection of the female body juxtaposed with the sacred iconography recalls the effect of trompe l’œil that was so dear to Baroque artists, while simultaneously emphasizing the metaphorical connection between nature and culture. The video is accompanied by music created by Pipilotti Rist and Anders Guggisberg.

Returning after two decades to the source of its creation, the exhibition of Rist's installation at Inhotim reaffirms the museum as a space of continuity, where works can resonate with their environment in an enduring embrace. The exhibition opened on October 19 at Galeria Fonte in Instituto Inhotim and will remain on display into 2026. More information about this exhibition can be found on the Instituto Inhotim site.