The Fundação Bienal de São Paulo presents the Practical Bienal, an unprecedented experience in the global landscape of art and accessibility. Created especially for the 36th Bienal de São Paulo, the project marks the first time in the world that artificial intelligence, image recognition, augmented reality, and accessibility resources are combined in a single digital mediation platform, conceived from scratch for a major international exhibition. The project is developed in partnership with the startup Real Again.
For the first time, visitors can interact directly with the artworks through their phone camera, in real time, without downloading apps and without access barriers. By pointing the device at the participating works, IARA appears – a multilingual avatar fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish – who interacts with the public, answers questions, and guides visitors through a mediated experience. A groundbreaking integration of technology, curatorship, accessibility, and visitor experience.
With descriptions in Easy Read format, the Practical Bienal presents 30 participants and their works, translating curatorial concepts and creative processes into an accessible experience. In addition to digital mediation, the platform also incorporates gamification elements, inviting audiences to identify works through their phone camera and discover surprises along the way. Nothing needs to be downloaded: just open the browser, access the link, and start exploring.
“The Practical Bienal is a pioneering project that seeks to create and connect new forms of access to contemporary art. It combines technology, mediation, and accessibility to transform the visit into an active process of discovery,” says Andrea Pinheiro, president of the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo.
Alongside its inclusion and accessibility policies—which, in this edition, gain new developments—the 36th Bienal offers a series of resources aimed at diverse audiences, including an inclusive audio guide, Braille and large-print materials, tactile models, accessible floor plans, guided visits in Libras, and a sensory accommodation room, offered by Petrobras, designed for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodivergences.
The artists selected for the project are: Adjani Okpu-Egbe, Alberto Pitta, Ana Raylander Mártis dos Anjos, Antonio Társis, Bertina Lopes, Emeka Ogboh, Helena Uambembe, Isa Genzken, Juliana dos Santos, Kamala Ibrahim Ishag, Laure Prouvost, Leonel Vásquez, Lidia Lisboa, Madame Zo, Malika Agueznay, Mao Ishikawa, Márcia Falcão, Maria Auxiliadora, Marlene Almeida, Maxwell Alexandre, Michele Ciacciofera, Minia Biabiany, Moffat Takadiwa, Nádia Taquary, Oscar Murillo, Precious Okoyomon, Sallisa Rosa, Sertão Negro, Song Dong, and Tanka Fonta.