A arte salva: Eduardo Srur

On December 8, the São Paulo-based artist Eduardo Srur invited volunteers to participate in an action in which 360 life buoys inscribed with the phrase “A arte salva” (Art Saves) were placed on the reflecting pool of the National Congress in Brasília. The objective was to propose art as a means of salvation and a way to restore consciousness through a peaceful act.

A total of 150 people responded to Srur’s call: “I need 300 volunteers to carry out this artistic demonstration at Congress and show art as a possibility of salvation, a path to reclaim consciousness.” Most participants were students from the University of Brasília (UnB), who had taken part in preparatory discussions at the Maquete space on November 6 and 7, which transformed the creative process into a collective experience.

The initiative was not pre-authorized, as its core intention was to claim public space for artistic expression as a democratic and legitimate right.

The students were not the only participants—many passersby understood the proposal and joined the experience, turning Srur’s work into a collective action. To the shouted call of "Salve!", the bright orange life-saving buoys were thrown into the water, covering the surface and altering the classical vision of the institutional landscape. This poetic gestureconfronted citizens with the idea of believing in art as a tool for transformation.

Srur will take over the entrance and reception of Baró Galeria with two installations. He will present the documentation of “A arte salva”, including a video record of the event, as well as a series of watercolors depicting pop culture figures—such as the Statue of Liberty wearing a life vest. He will also showcase the intervention "Caçamba", which will interact with both the street and the façade of the gallery building.