Yawanawá indigenous woman. State of Acre, Brazil, 2016
AMAZÔNIA: Sebastião Salgado’s Biggest Exhibition Now in Barcelona
Over 1.5 million visitors have experienced AMAZÔNIA in cities like Paris, Rome, London, Los Angeles, São Paulo, and Zurich.
Extraordinary Concert
The Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu will present a one-of-a-kind concert featuring compositions by Philip Glass and Heitor Villa-Lobos, accompanied by a synchronized projection of selected images from the exhibition. The images, personally chosen for the event by Sebastião Salgado, will add a powerful visual dimension to this extraordinary performance.
Immerse yourself in AMAZÔNIA, guided by a soundtrack composed by Jean-Michel Jarre
With natural sounds of the Amazon, captured by the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva.
Accompanied by images that alternate between lush landscapes and portraits of some of the 300,000 indigenous people who inhabit the Amazon, this exhibition features an unparalleled audio experience where Jarre's music merges with real sounds from the jungle.
AMAZÔNIA is much more than an exhibition; it's a full sensory journey, inviting you to lose yourself and uncover the magnificence of this natural sanctuary.
Mount Roraima. State of Roraima, Brazil, 2018.
For seven years, Sebastião Salgado embarked on a photographic and personal journey into the Amazon, reaching its most secluded corners and connecting with its people. His over 200 black-and-white photographs capture the grandeur of a landscape that breathes life into our entire planet.
Yanomami shaman performs a ritual before the ascent to Pico da Neblina. State of Amazonas, Brazil, 2014.
Reviews of AMAZÔNIA - Salgado’s Exhibition
"A comprehensive exhibition that addresses a crucial part of our environment with a committed social and political vision—all with extraordinary aesthetic and artistic quality, brimming with ethics."
"Amazing work with an atmosphere that transports you there."
"A spiritual and artistic legacy for future generations, beautifully realized."
"Absolutely wonderful, like everything Sebastião Salgado does."
"Impressive! An opportunity to have fun and reflect."
A Letter from Lélia Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado on the AMAZÔNIA Exhibition.
Our planet faces unprecedented dangers this century. Global warming, soil degradation, ocean pollution, and the destruction of biodiversity challenge all of humankind. This climate emergency underscores our environment’s fragility, crucial to life on Earth. The Amazon rainforest, often called "the lungs of the world" for its immense carbon dioxide absorption, plays a vital role in combating global warming.
Yet, its destruction is accelerating: fires are set to clear land for cattle and soy farming, rivers are poisoned by independent gold prospectors, and illegal logging of valuable hardwoods ravages the forest, making it increasingly difficult to safeguard indigenous communities who call this vast territory home. The Amazon is home to one-tenth of the world's plant and animal species, making it the largest natural laboratory on Earth. Its 310,000 indigenous residents represent 169 ethnic groups speaking over 130 languages. This ancestral world, however, is at risk of disappearing.
It was this urgent situation that inspired this photographic project. Our aim is not to emphasize the devastation but rather to showcase the Amazon’s remarkable beauty and highlight the need to preserve its ecosystem and its people. This exhibition represents seven years of human and photographic exploration—on land, in water and air—capturing an AMAZÔNIA that remains largely unknown and endlessly awe-inspiring. Through these images, we hope to reveal nature’s majesty and the dignified simplicity of the indigenous way of life. We believe that all of humanity shares the responsibility to protect our common heritage, including the marvel that is AMAZÔNIA.
Lélia Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado
Sebastião Salgado and Lélia Wanick Salgado
Terra Institute
In their commitment to environmental restoration, Lélia Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado founded Instituto Terra to reforest the farm where Sebastião grew up, in Aimorés. Since the early 2000s, they have planted nearly three million trees, carefully restoring the area’s original ecosystem. Today, hundreds of plant and animal species coexist in this once-barren land, proving that there is still hope for preserving our shared planet.
Zurich’s sponsorship of AMAZÔNIA is part of Zurich’s interest in creating and raising awareness among a wider public of the need for concrete environmental action. It complements Zurich's long-standing collaboration with Instituto Terra, the non-profit organization of Lélia Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado.
In 2020, Zurich launched the Zurich Forest project to support reforestation and biodiversity restoration of parts of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Reflecting its purpose to ‘create a brighter future together,’ Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world.
An Accessible Exhibition
The AMAZÔNIA exhibition provides an inclusive experience designed for everyone, including visitors with visual impairments, through the AMAZÔNIA Touch project. Created by Sebastião Salgado and Lélia Wanick Salgado in collaboration with Fondation VISO, this initiative features 21 tactile plates that enable visitors to experience Salgado's work in a new and hands-on way. Previously shown only in Milan and Zurich, these tactile images offer a fresh way to explore the Amazon.
Additionally, with support from Telefónica, the exhibition incorporates Augmented Reality (AR) to enhance accessibility for visually impaired visitors. Using their mobile phones, users can access the exhibit’s content as audio or text in Catalan, Spanish, or English. This collaboration underscores the commitment of Sebastião Salgado, Telefónica, and La Fábrica to fostering accessibility and inclusion.
Media Reviews of AMAZÔNIA - Salgado’s Exhibition
"An exhibition that raises tough questions"
Los Ángeles Times
"A formidable celebration of life on earth"
The Telegraph
"Paradise exists"
The Guardian
"The earth's impressive resilience"
The Boston Globe
LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE GIFT?
Spread joy with the AMAZÔNIA gift card! Perfect for all ages, it offers endless entertainment and memorable moments. An ideal gift for lovers of artists, photography and nature.
What happens if I arrive after the time indicated on my ticket?
Admission to the exhibition is valid for the assigned time and for the remainder of the same day. Access at a different time is not guaranteed.
Can I exit and re-enter the exhibition with the same ticket?
No, once accessed, re-entry is not allowed.
Can I buy a ticket on the day of the visit?
Yes, tickets are available until 30 minutes before the closing of the exhibition.
Can I bring food or drink to the exhibition?
No, entering the room with any kind of beverage or food is not permitted.
What do I do with large objects such as backpacks or umbrellas?
Backpacks, bags, umbrellas and other objects whose size may represent a risk to the works on display or a nuisance to other visitors must be deposited in the museum's cloakroom.
The organizers are not responsible for any lost or stolen items during the visit.
Can I take pictures at the exhibition?
Yes, photographs may be taken without flash, but the use of tripods and cell phone sticks is not permitted. Out of respect for other visitors, please keep quiet or speak in a low voice.
Are scooters or bicycles allowed?
No, only wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility and baby strollers are allowed.
What do I do in case of an emergency or evacuation?
In the event of an evacuation, the safety and emergency instructions provided by the staff should be followed. This includes the location of emergency exits, meeting points and procedures to be followed in case of evacuation.
Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed, except for guide dogs.
Will there be strobe lights?
The experience has video and audio elements that may affect sensitive individuals.
