Cultural ContributionsArts

The richness of art comes from its power to stir peoples' emotions and influence their vision of the world. In this way, art helps construct the identity of each social group. By sponsoring studies and then later elaborating books on the topic, Odebrecht contributes so that increasingly more people may enjoy this experience.

Over recent years, the Organization has supported projects on the modernism of Tarsila do Amaral, the lenses of Cravo Neto, the Bahia of Caymmi, the classics of Villa-Lobos, the cordel of Elomar, the talent of Clarival do Prado Valladares and the paintings of Lula Cardoso Ayres, Alberto Valença and Portinari, among other important artists.

This archive presents works on the most diverse art forms, such as music, painting, sculpture, poetry, tapestry and pottery.

 

Companies from the Indies and Custom-Ordered Chinese Porcelain

Porcelana da Companhia das Índias (“Porcelain from the Companies of the Indies”) was a generic term for which all porcelain coming from the Far East came to be known. Manufactured primarily in China since ancient times, hundreds of examples of this fine tableware arrived in Brazil with the Portuguese Court and ended up earning a special place in Brazilian homes.

As Companhias das Índias e a Porcelana Chinesa de Encomenda, published in 1986, is the first book in the Portuguese language to provide an ample overview of this important chapter in the history of decorative arts and trade relations between the East and West.

With research and text by historian and art critic José Roberto Teixeira Leite, the book features 80 colored illustrations (photos) and 70 in black and white. Combining esthetic concepts with historical research, the book offers an ample notion of the significance of these famous pieces - even today disputed by collectors.