Postdoctoral Fellowship – Eastern European Modernism in Traveling Exhibitions in Brazil and South America (1948–1978).

The Thematic Project Geopolíticas institucionais: arte em disputa nas mostras internacionais circulantes no Brasil (1948–1978) [Institutional Geopolitics: Art in Dispute in International Traveling Exhibitions in Brazil (1948–1978)], developed at the Institute of the Arts at UNICAMP under the coordination of Professor Maria de Fátima Morethy Couto, in partnership with EACH/USP and UNIFESP, and funded by FAPESP (Grant No. 2022/12333-3), is offering one (1) postdoctoral fellowship for a scholar with a distinguished research record in the field of Art History and Criticism. The postdoctoral research will focus on Eastern European modernism in traveling exhibitions held in Brazil and South America between 1948 and 1978, with a duration of 24 months. The fellowship will be carried out at the Institute of the Arts at UNICAMP (Rua Elis Regina, 50 – Cidade Universitária – Zeferino Vaz, Campinas – SP, 13083-854).

This postdoctoral research aims to analyze the networks that made it possible to organize art exhibitions from Eastern European countries in Brazil and South America during the specified time frame. In addition to tracing their itineraries across South America, the project will seek to identify the agents involved—whether artists, curators, critics, or diplomats. The participation of these countries in the São Paulo Biennial will also be addressed, as some of the exhibitions were connected to national representations at the event. The critical reception of these exhibitions and the artworks they featured will likewise be studied, as they introduced local audiences to alternative forms of modernism—marginal in relation to the dominant narratives of Western art history, yet in dialogue with the productions of major European artistic centers.
Its main objective will be to understand the aesthetic, political, and diplomatic dimensions of modern and contemporary art exhibitions originating in Eastern European countries and circulating in Brazil and South America during the specified period, relating them to the international context of the Cold War and to the alignment—or non-alignment—of these countries with Soviet Union policies. The research will also seek to demonstrate the plural nature of artistic production in these countries, through analysis of the exhibitions, the artworks and objects they presented, the agents involved in their organization, and their impact on local and/or national art circuits. Another relevant aspect to be studied concerns the characteristics of these exhibitions, which were predominantly focused on graphic and applied arts, and the extent of their circulation. Did their specific features allow them to travel to more countries?

With regard to methodology, the research will follow the same guidelines as the overarching Thematic Project, which focuses on discussing the relevance of international exhibitions in Brazil and South America—specifically in this case, the traveling exhibitions of Eastern European art between 1948 and 1978. The fellow will be responsible for mapping the exhibitions and identifying and analyzing the curators, artists, artworks, and agents involved in their organization. The study will be conducted through research based on both primary and secondary sources, including exhibition catalogs, the websites of organizing institutions, and readings on the political and artistic contexts of the period, in order to understand and contextualize the dynamics at play. Given the nature of the documentation to be consulted, the researcher must be proficient in English, in addition to Portuguese.

Specific Objectives:
• Recover the routes followed by the exhibitions across South America, with particular emphasis on the work of Jorge Glusberg at the Centro de Arte y Comunicación (CAYC) in Buenos Aires during the 1970s, as this center hosted several exhibitions of Eastern European artists.
• Assess Brazil’s position within this continental itinerary and network of artistic and geopolitical interests.
• Identify the curators, artists, and social agents involved in organizing these exhibitions.
• Examine, through newspapers and magazines, the critical reception of these exhibitions in the cities that hosted them.
• Analyze the impact of the selected exhibitions on local and regional debates, as well as their role in the creation of artistic and intellectual networks.
• Understand the political and diplomatic dimensions of the selected exhibitions, relating them to the international context of the Cold War and the alignment or non-alignment of Eastern European countries with the Soviet Union.
• Highlight parallel activities associated with the selected traveling exhibitions, such as lectures and interviews with curators, courses, and seminars.

3. Planned Activities
• Contribute to the development of the database associated with this Thematic Project, with an emphasis on metadata indexing procedures.
• Participate in the regular activities of the Thematic Project.
• Take part in academic events with publication of proceedings.
• Present preliminary research findings at international workshops and seminars organized by the Thematic Project team.
• Publish at least one (1) article based on the research in a peer-reviewed journal in the field, and contribute to the book to be edited by the project team.
• Collaborate in a graduate-level course within the Visual Arts Graduate Program (PPG Artes Visuais) at UNICAMP, through seminars related to the postdoctoral project theme.
• Prepare and submit the annual research reports required by FAPESP.

4. Eligibility Requirements
• Hold a doctoral degree in a field related to the project, obtained in Brazil or abroad, no more than seven years prior.
• Have an excellent overall academic background and an excellent graduate transcript.
• Demonstrate strong research potential through the accomplishments listed in the Súmula Curricular (academic bio), preferably including prior publications related to the project's subject matter.
• Be available to begin research activities as of September 1, 2025, subject to possible delays if FAPESP has not completed the fellowship approval process by that date.
• Dedicate full time and exclusively to the activities outlined in the Postdoctoral Project. (This is a requirement of the Postdoctoral Researcher Program—PPPD-Unicamp—which the selected candidate must formally join in order to carry out the postdoctoral fellowship at UNICAMP. See Paragraph 5, Section I of Article 3 of the regulation: https://www.pg.unicamp.br/norma/10306/1)

5. Applications
Applicants interested in participating in the selection process must submit the documents listed below via email to: cpgiaunicamp.br, with the subject line: “Postdoctoral Application FAPESP Eastern European Modernism – Full Name of Applicant.”
• Súmula Curricular in the current format required by FAPESP (https://fapesp.br/sumula), highlighting in the “Other Relevant Information” section the applicant’s scientific output related to the scope of this call, as well as international research experience (short- and long-term research stays, participation in collaborations).
• Proof of completion of a doctoral degree in a field related to this call (such as a diploma, certificate of completion, or thesis defense record).
• A letter (maximum 3 pages) stating the applicant’s interest in the fellowship, including a brief overview of their experience in the field of art history, previous fellowships received, participation in collaborative projects, and research experience in national and international archives.
• A copy of one (1) scholarly publication, selected by the applicant.
The deadline for submitting applications is 11:59 p.m. (Brasília time) on June 16, 2025.
Each document must be attached individually in PDF format and named using the applicant’s full name followed by the document type. For example: “Maria José Silva_Certificate of Doctoral Completion.” The body of the email must include the applicant’s full name, address, and contact phone number. The subject line must read: “Postdoctoral Application FAPESP Eastern European Modernism – Full Name of Applicant.”
Candidates will be invited to an online interview with the project coordinator and two members of the Thematic Project team, in order to assess the alignment of their areas of expertise with the research themes of the project.
The position is open to both Brazilian and foreign applicants. In the case of foreign applicants, it is their responsibility to verify and obtain the necessary documentation for entry and residence in Brazil, through the Brazilian Consulate nearest to their place of residence.
The selected candidate must reside in the state of São Paulo once the fellowship is awarded and dedicate themselves exclusively to the research project.
The implementation of the fellowship is subject to the approval of the selected candidate by FAPESP. Applicants must be familiar with the guidelines, forms, and procedures established by FAPESP for this type of grant when applying to this public call.
If the decision is approved by FAPESP, the selected candidate will receive a monthly fellowship in the amount of R$ 12,000.00. A technical reserve equivalent to 10% of the annual value of the fellowship will be provided to cover expenses directly related to the research activities of the Thematic Project.
Further information about the FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship and the agency’s guidelines for this type of grant is available at www.fapesp.br/bolsas/pd.
This postdoctoral selection process will remain valid for six (6) months. If the first selected candidate does not take up the position, the next candidate on the approved list may be nominated.

6. Timeline
• Application period: May 26, 2025 to June 16, 2025 (until 11:59 p.m.)
• Announcement of accepted applications on the Visual Arts Graduate Program website: by June 27, 2025
• Appeals period (a letter justifying the appeal must be sent to cpgiaunicamp.br): until July 1, 2025
• Response to appeals (via email to the applicant): by July 4, 2025
• Online interviews via Google Meet (time to be announced): from July 7 to July 11, 2025
• Announcement of results on the Visual Arts Graduate Program website: July 14, 2025 (https://www.iar.unicamp.br/pos-doutorado/processo-seletivo/)
• Expected start of activities: September 1, 2025, subject to completion of the procedures and requirements set by FAPESP (https://fapesp.br/bolsas/pd) and the agency’s final approval of the selected candidate.
Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the necessary conditions for a stable internet connection and appropriate equipment for participating in the online interview. The selection committee bears no responsibility for technical issues or delays on the part of applicants during the interview process.