The National Museum of the Republic received 1.645 visitors at the opening of the photography exhibition that connects the art and struggle of the Xingu peoples
The exposure "The Eyes of the Xingu", inaugurated last Friday (06/12) at the National Museum of the Republic, in Brasília, highlights the struggle of the indigenous and riverside peoples of the Xingu River Basin. Through photographs and videos, the exhibition offers a sensitive look at the culture, challenges and threats faced in the Xingu Corridor of Socioenvironmental Diversity.
The communicators participating in the exhibition are part of the Xingu+ Network and connect, through the production of photographs and videos, the vast territory that extends over 26,7 million hectares between the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, covering protected areas in the states of Pará and Mato Grosso.
Founded in 2019, the Xingu+ Network emerged in response to the increasing threats and pressures on the Corridor, demonstrating over the years that its actions are crucial to protecting the territory and tackling the climate crisis.
The network brings together 53 indigenous, riverside and civil society organizations and movements, which operate in the nine conservation units and 22 indigenous lands of the Xingu Basin, articulated around the protection of the lives of the Xingu.
“The photo of a child represents the free life in the village. That’s what we want: to be free and healthy. I feel that, as communicators, we fight through communication. I see myself as a leader, not a traditional one, but a leader who fights for the rights, not only of indigenous peoples, but of everyone. If we don’t speak out, everyone will suffer the consequences,” says Kujãesage Kaiabi, curator of the exhibition.
During the opening ceremony, Kujãesage Kaiabi reinforced the role of images as a form of resistance: “We are here not only to display a beautiful photo, but to strengthen the struggle of our leaders. Our role is very important. We are the eyes of the Xingu and we fight for protection against threats.”
The opening marked not only an important moment in the professional and personal trajectory of curator Kujãesage Kaiabi and the eight Xingu Communicators, but also a step forward in the occupation of spaces of resistance by indigenous and riverside peoples.
“For me, this exhibition represents that we, indigenous peoples, can occupy any space we wish, including those who are fundamental in the fight for resistance,” declared the curator.
For communicator Kokoyamatxi Renan Suya, the exhibition marks a historic moment for his work. “Taking my gaze to the capital of Brazil, to the most important space in the country, which is the National Museum of the Republic, is an achievement for us indigenous and riverside artists,” he said emotionally during the opening of the exhibition.
The event was attended by supporters and the president of the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI), Joenia Wapichana, which reinforced the recognition of the exhibition created by indigenous and riverside communicators. “Feeling this support is a confirmation that our voice is being heard and valued,” said Kujãesage Kaiabi.
Joenia Wapichana composed the opening ceremony and highlighted the importance of art as a tool for communication and resistance: “Brazilian society needs to understand and engage in these efforts, because the fight for indigenous rights must be a shared responsibility. Through the talent and potential of indigenous peoples, we show that we only want to be respected in our ways of life,” she said.
In addition to Joenia Wapichana, the event was attended by Felipe Ramón Moro Rodríguez, representing the Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the Federal District and the National Museum of the Republic; Márcio Santilli, president of the Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA); and Jean-Pierre Bou, deputy head of the Delegation of the European Union in Brazil.
“I am very happy and strengthened that Minister Jean-Pierre Bou and the president of Funai are attending the exhibition and recognizing our important role in the fight for life, territory and rights,” shared communicator Kokoyamatxi Renan Suya.
Also present at the opening were Thiago Yawanawá, chief of staff to Congresswoman Célia Xakriabá, and Lucas Marubo, coordinator of the Mixed Parliamentary Front for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as Tukumã Pataxó and Samella Sateré Mawé, representatives of the communications department of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib).
Winding through the curves of the Xingu
After the opening ceremony, the public was invited to see the 20 photographs through the voices of Xinguan communicators, who led a guided tour sharing the stories that motivated the production of the images.
Joelmir Silva e Silva, Kamatxi Ikpeng, Kokoyamaratxi Renan Suya, Kubenkàkre Kayapó, Kujãesage Kaiabi, Nharapá Juruna, Po yre Menkragnotire, Tauana Kalapalo and Yamony Muriki Yawalapiti Kuikuro explained the resources chosen for the production and treatment of the images, in addition to presenting the people and places portrayed.
The visit was also attended by 15 undergraduate students from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Brasília (UnB), accompanied by professor and anthropologist Henyo Barreto. The presence of indigenous and riverside communicators provided an enriching learning experience, based on direct contact with narratives from those who live in the Xingu.
Students had the opportunity to engage with Xingu communicators, who play an active role in representing their communities, bringing future anthropologists closer to a more participatory approach. During the guided tour, the communicators not only shared their views and knowledge, but also challenged students to reflect on the centrality of the indigenous and riverside voice in the construction of anthropological knowledge.
The interaction added practical experience to the theoretical discussions, offering a richer and more contextualized understanding of the cultural and political issues of the Xingu people. This experience made students aware of the complexities of intercultural relations, helping them to act as professionals who are more aware and committed to social justice and respect for diversity.
For communicator Kokoyamaratxi Renan Suya, the visit by university students and professors played an essential role, as it allowed them to connect with the works and narratives about cultural diversity, the importance of biodiversity and the challenges faced in the Xingu territories. He highlighted that the knowledge acquired at the exhibition can be widely shared in schools and universities, promoting awareness and inspiring actions for a healthier planet.
Training of the educational staff of the National Museum of the Republic
A meeting between Xingu communicators and the educational sector of a museum was essential to ensure that the educators' training was in-depth, respectful and representative of the stories that inspired the production of the photographic works presented, especially in the context of an exhibition such as “The Eyes of the Xingu”.
This type of meeting promotes direct dialogue, allowing the museum's education team to understand, in a more detailed and sensitive way, the narratives, meanings and perspectives that Xingu communicators wish to convey.
Therefore, before the opening of the exhibition, the communicators of the Xingu+ Network carried out training for the educational team of the National Museum of the Republic and for Bianca Brivarez and Ro Silva, mediators, who will lead the activities until the closing of the exhibition.
This meeting, held on December 4, created a space for mutual learning, in which artists and educators shared knowledge, strengthening the quality of the mediations that will be carried out throughout the exhibition's duration. “The Eyes of the Xingu”.
The Xingu artists brought experiences that form the indispensable backdrop for educators to understand the values and symbolism of the themes portrayed in the exhibition. The presence of Xingu communicators ensured that the indigenous and riverine perspective remained central to the training process, reinforcing the leading role of the Xingu people in telling their own stories.
The interaction between Xingu Communicators and the educational sector contributed to the promotion of a more inclusive and respectful approach to the themes portrayed in the photographs, both for educators and for the public who will visit the museum.
With well-trained educators aligned with the artists’ proposal, the public will have access to a richer experience, expanding their understanding of the Xingu ways of life. The knowledge produced during the training encourages dialogue between contemporary educational practices and the vision of Xingu Communicators, ensuring that the exhibition’s audience understands the inspirations that underpin “The Eyes of the Xingu”.
Knowledge is circular
In a communication that is not separated from life, the older generations of Xingu Communicators continue to inspire the younger ones in the production of images created from their territories of origin.
“I took this photo at the 2023 Women’s March to portray the leadership of Ngrenhkàmôrô Kayapó. I made this edit inspired by a photograph by Kamikia Kisedje. He created a beautiful and powerful edit using black, white and red in a photo in which he holds a camera. This motivated me to choose this language to edit the photo of this warrior woman from the Kayapó IT,” reported communicator Yamony Muriki Yawalapiti Kuikuro.
Kamikia Kisedje expressed her joy at seeing her work serve as inspiration for Yamony Muriki Yawalapiti Kuikuro in creating her work for the exhibition. “I feel truly joyful to be part of this talented group of communicators and to be present at the exhibition 'The Eyes of the Xingu'”, said filmmaker Khisêtjê.
Click here to check out Yamony Muriki Yawalapiti Kuikuro's testimony with the beaters about the treatment of the photography that makes up the exhibition “The Eyes of the Xingu”.
Being a communicator, from the point of view of indigenous and riverside societies and the communicators themselves, represents a Xingu form of knowledge production. This process is fundamental not only for the final results of the works, but also for the methods of creation, which are inspired by the exchanges between them.
Photographic and audiovisual production in the Xingu context, as highlighted in the exhibition, reflects a process of circular knowledge that connects generations, experiences and languages. Inspiring each other is more than a technical exchange; it is a way of creating visual narratives that value the collective memory and identity of the people of the Xingu.
This dynamic, exemplified by the dialogue between Yamony Muriki Yawalapiti Kuikuro and Kamikia Kisedje, demonstrates how Xingu communication transcends the individual, reaffirming a collaborative production based on the territories of origin.
The exposure “The Eyes of the Xingu” It thus becomes a space where not only the works, but also their creative processes, reveal the richness of a Xinguan vision of the world — based on respect, ancestry and the continuous strengthening of relationships between people. “Eyes of the Xingu”.
Service
Location: National Museum of the Republic – Southern Cultural Sector, Lot 2, Brasília (DF)
Visitation: December 6, 2024 to February 02, 2025
Free admission
Production: Xingu+ Network, European Union, Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA)
Support: Rainforest Foundation Norway
Production: Encourage Cultural Solutions
Partnership: Secretariat of International Relations and Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the Government of the Federal District
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