Mediação cultural como prática educativa: um olhar sobre o projeto Arte no metrô e as obras de Gontran Guanaes Netto

Abstract

This Thesis came from the author's daily observations during her routes on São Paulo's subway system, particularly upon noticing the presence of artworks in some stations. The research focuses on the Arte no Metrô (Art in the Subway) project, created with the aim of transforming the subway system by exhibiting public artworks, and investigating whether this ideal has been achieved today. The study centers on the Marechal Deodoro and Corinthians-Itaquera stations, which feature works by the artist Gontran Guanaes Netto. The research also explores his artistic trajectory and production, highlighting the significance of his work within the urban and cultural context. Drawing on concepts of cultural mediation and art education, the study employs theoretical frameworks from Ana Mae Barbosa and Paulo Freire, as well as Walter Benjamin's notion of the “aura”, related to the aesthetic experience and authenticity in encounters with art. It also incorporates Marc Augé’s concept of “non-place,” which contributes to the understanding of metro stations as spaces of transience and symbolic emptiness. The adopted methodology combined qualitative and quantitative approaches through an online form, which received 67 responses, in addition to informal conversations with subway users during the observation of the artworks. The results point to a symbolic erasure of the artworks: many users pass through the stations without noticing or recognizing the artistic expressions present in the space. In response, a cultural mediation initiative was proposed for the Marechal Deodoro station, including actions such as active listening, discussion circles with practical activities and an educational guide. The research concludes that the project lacks effective strategies to gather art and the public, thus reinforcing the importance of the metro as a powerful space for cultural formation.