The exhibition Palmira Puig / Marcel Giró. Humanism in Brazilian Modernist Photography is now on view at the Instituto Cervantes in São Paulo. Inaugurated on 5 September and curated by Rocío Santa Cruz, the exhibition is part of the cultural programme organised to mark Spain’s participation as Guest of Honour at the 28th São Paulo International Book Biennial, taking place from 4 to 13 September 2026.
The exhibition brings together more than one hundred photographs by Palmira Puig and Marcel Giró, tracing the careers of both artists from their arrival in Brazil following their exile to their involvement with the Foto Cine Clube Bandeirante and their contribution to the renewal of modern Brazilian photography. Particular attention is given to the rediscovery of Palmira Puig and her work, whose humanist vision occupies a central place within this photographic context.
The presence of both photographers also extends to the Biennial itself. The Spanish Pavilion, inaugurated on 4 September as the central venue for Spain’s participation, features a visual installation comprising twenty photographs by Palmira Puig and Marcel Giró, thus establishing a dialogue between the exhibition at the Instituto Cervantes and Spain’s official programme as Guest of Honour.
Alongside the exhibition, the Instituto Cervantes will host a Confluências Fotográficas event on 8 September at 7 p.m. Rocío Santa Cruz and João Kulcsár will take the exhibition as a starting point for a conversation exploring photography, the circulation of images, memory, and connections across different cultural contexts. The discussion will also highlight the rediscovery of Palmira Puig and the recognition of her place in the history of modern photography.
The exhibition and the presentation of their work at the Spanish Pavilion further strengthen international recognition of Palmira Puig and Marcel Giró’s legacy, placing it at the heart of the cultural exchange between Spain and Brazil that shapes this year’s Biennial.
