De onde vem o samba

Solo Exhibition – 2025
Gallery B and C– Centro Cultural dos Correios Rio de Janeiro
Curated by Thiago Fernandes

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De onde vem o samba (Where Samba Comes From)—the third solo exhibition by artist Mery Horta—took place from September 9 to October 25, 2025, at the Centro Cultural dos Correios in Rio de Janeiro. It brought together previously unseen works by the artist, spanning textile objects, installation, photography, video, and performance. The artist explored the figure of the "baiana" in samba schools—drawing on personal experience with her mother (Conceição Horta, a "baiana" for the Mocidade school for over 20 years) and conducting interviews with "baianas" from the Mocidade and Grande Rio schools—to weave an "affective tapestry" regarding the universe of samba and the "baianas" themselves.
The exhibition was curated by Thiago Fernandes, with historical research by Ramon Castellano. It was supported by the Nossos Museus (Our Museums) grant program from SECEC RJ.
A printed exhibition catalog was produced, featuring texts by the artist, the curator, and the historian.