Inhotim is more than a museum

[highlight]Leia em Português[/highlight]

Imagine a huge garden designed by a landscaper, around lakes and groves. Add work of art from renowned artists interacting with this view and in harmony with the environment. Now insert constructions, completely integrated with nature, with art galleries, pubs and restaurants full of art from contemporary artists. And last but not least, imagine land or rock trails in the middle of the groves and gardens, connecting the spaces. This is INHOTIM, the coolest museum I have ever been to in Brazil and perhaps the most pleasant in the world.

 

It has a mix of things that I love such as expositions, trails, nature and relaxing spaces with a lot of style. It is great for all ages and all kinds of taste. Everything is new for the kids, who will not get bored with so many options of fun. For the ones who do not enjoy walking that much, there are golf cars that drive you through the paths. Now, for the adventurers, there is a lot of discovery when following the trail. If you are a photographer, one day is not enough for so many details, even though it is only allowed to take pictures in the outdoor spaces. The infrastructure offers parking, restaurants, snack bars, hot-dog stand, places to rest with rustic wood furniture, golf car transportation through the trails, oriented visits and a gift shop.

 

In the groves you can find bugs and small animals, in the lakes there is fish and birds. During the week it is probably better to spot the animals and take pictures, because there are less people. We saw a squirrel in the middle of the woods that leaped very fast and ran away when it noticed us.

In the 8os it was deforested for mining, and then it became a private property when an art collector bought the land, built a house and started designing the gardens. Little by little he started displaying his art outside, to interact with the nature. Some friends saw and liked it, began to send him their art, the number of visits increased and the museum started to take shape.

Nowadays Inhotim receives the title of Botanic Garden and is recognized as a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (Organização da Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público – OSCIP) with a lot of educational and environmental projects. There are about 500 people working, including gardeners, labor workers, guides and others.

Many new spaces are being built to enlarge the collection. Besides loving the place, this is one more reason I have to go back another times to check out what is new. It is a place everybody should enjoy in person.

Congratulations to the mind behind the project. And let’s hope it is an incentive for more innovative projects in Brazil.