• Associated activities

Nhemboaty – Meeting of Worlds

Rafael Vilela & Guarani Yvyrupá Commission

  • September 21 | Sunday | 12pm to 6pm
  • Associated spaces
PD_01_004 - Rafael Vilela
The Guarani indigenous land at Jaraguá in São Paulo is surrounded by rapid urban expansion and faces relentless pressure from real estate speculation. The eight villages situated around the Jaraguá peak are actively fighting to protect one of the last remnants of Atlantic Forest within the urban landscape, while being cut off by huge highways such as the Rodovia dos Bandeirantes (Bandeirante was the name given to the Portuguese settlers in the city during the XVI century).
encontro_rearc_02 (1)

The Guarani Mbyá community preserves its spirituality and language on Brazil's smallest indigenous land, surrounded by the megalopolis of São Paulo. In 1500, during the Portuguese invasion, the Guarani inhabited vast territories from the Brazilian coast to Paraguay. Their prosperous villages thrived on agriculture and livestock. Over the centuries, they were displaced, enslaved, and catechized, contributing to São Paulo's rise as a commercial center. Today, this community represents a microcosm of the global climate crisis. Amid 22 million people, they protect one of the last remaining tropical forests in the region, including the 400-hectare Jaraguá Peak. Despite being restricted to just 1.8 hectares of recognized territory, they maintain ancestral agricultural practices and protect biodiversity, resisting environmental degradation. By comparison, indigenous lands in Brazil lost only 1% of native vegetation in 30 years, compared to 20.6% on private lands. 

At the heart of their spiritual practice is the Petynguá pipe, made from the endangered araucaria tree, connecting past, present, and future. This sacred smoke, rising from the intersection of forest and urban sprawl, symbolizes their unbroken ancestry and a call to rethink the environmental impact of urban life. 

Nhemboaty is the result of five years of meetings between photographer Rafael Vilela and the residents of the Jaraguá Indigenous Territory. The exhibition takes place within the Pindomirim Village, an immersive experience in Nhanderekó, the Guarani way of life. For an afternoon, visitors will be able to sample the traditional food of this people, walk through the territory, listen to their words and songs, and visit sacred and exhibition spaces. The event, held in partnership with the São Paulo Architecture Biennial and the Autonomous Agency, will also feature a short film screening from the Imagining the Forest project, with films by Nadeem Alkarimi, Qadir Jhatial, and Sadqain Riaz (Karachi Biennial, Pakistan), and Eelyn Lee (Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival, UK). 

This research received significant support and funding from Catchlight, the National Geographic Society, and the British Council.

As it is sacred territory, entry to the village experience will be limited to 40 people. 
This activity is closed to invited participants.

We thank everyone who participated and visited the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, from September 18 to October 19, 2025

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.