“Encontro” – Franz Weissmann Sculpture

The sculpture “Encontro” by Franz Weissmann is a striking work of art, installed outdoors in the courtyard of the Cultural Center of the Rio de Janeiro State Prosecutor’s Office (PGE-RJ), located behind the historic do Carmo Convent. 

Franz Weissmann was born in Austria in 1911 and settled in Brazil in the 1920s. He was a sculptor, painter, and draftsman, as well as a key figure in the Brazilian Neo-Concrete movement. He studied at the National School of Fine Arts and, in the 1950s, alongside figures such as Lygia Clark, Décio Vieira, and Amílcar de Castro, he was part of Grupo Frente, which was instrumental in the emergence of the Neo-Concrete movement. 

Franz Weissmann in his workshop. Wilton Montenegro, undated. Itaú Cultural Encyclopedia.

His artistic journey was defined by his search for a visual language that transcended physical space, exploring what he called “active voids” – the cut-outs in his sculptures that create an open and interactive sense of three-dimensionality.

“Encontro”, a metal piece unveiled in 1985, reflects the core characteristics of the sculptor’s style: geometric shapes, intersecting planes, and cut-outs that create harmony between solid elements and active voids. The sculpture is situated in a historic location in Rio de Janeiro and symbolizes a new kind of urban monument. Rather than honoring traditional historical figures, it seeks to stimulate artistic appreciation, contributing to the renewal of the city’s urban and cultural heritage.

Reproduction: PGE-RJ site

Weissmann believed that art, especially sculpture, should not be confined to museums or galleries but instead should be displayed in spaces where members of the public circulate and where people can experience it up close. By choosing to exhibit his sculptures in public spaces, he aimed for his works to become part of people’s everyday experiences, fostering interpretations and emotional connections.

The sculpture is strategically located in the courtyard of the Public Prosecutor´s Office, a space rich with historical layers, connecting the past to the present. It blends with the architecture of the do Carmo Convent. However, the sculpture’s journey to this location took some dramatic turns on the way. In 2022, amidst the judicial recovery process of Universidade Cândido Mendes, the institution to which the sculpture belonged, the piece was nearly auctioned off. It was removed from the auction and expropriated by the state government, ensuring its preservation as cultural heritage. So, the inclusion of “Encontro” in the PGE’s cultural collection represents an effort to preserve the memory and wealth of the Constructivist movement in Brazil.

Reproduction: Bolsa de Arte site