After seven years since a fire in 2018, the National Museum of Brazil has reopened its doors to the public with a temporary exhibition titled "Among Giants." Visitors will be welcomed at the main entrance by the Bendegó meteorite, the largest ever discovered in Brazil, which survived the blaze due to its iron composition. The meteorite has been a symbol of resilience for the institution since it was brought to the museum in 1888.
For the first time since the incident, the public can explore three restored rooms in the Palace of São Cristóvão, including the entrance hall and the Bendegó room. These areas display restored artistic elements, some of which were previously covered and have now been unveiled. The exhibition also emphasizes architectural and restoration aspects of the palace, allowing visitors to witness the progress made in rebuilding the historic structure.
"Among Giants" features not only the Bendegó meteorite but also the skeleton of a sperm whale measuring 15.7 meters in length. The skeleton, suspended in the new skylight of the building, is the largest of its species to be exhibited in South America. The preparation of the skeleton involved restoration work that lasted about two months, including bone consolidation and the replacement of some skeletal structures.
The exhibition includes restored marble sculptures from the museum's surviving original collection. Notably, two marble sculptures from Carrara and the restored fresco "Dragon and Two Dolphins," originally part of Empress Tereza Cristina's collection, are on display. The fresco was found after the fire in 156 fragments and underwent a restoration project in Italy.
"It's a historic moment: to be able, even if for a short time, to open a small part of the palace for visitation! The whole society is invited to participate in this new phase of the Museum!" said Alexander Kellner, the director of the National Museum of Brazil.
Visitors will also find works by indigenous artist Gustavo Caboco, a Wapichana visual artist. Caboco reinterpreted the Bendegó meteorite through a series of artistic works created in collaboration with his family. These pieces are displayed alongside the meteorite and other specimens from the meteorite collection.
The museum's reconstruction has made strides, with advancements over the facades and the roof. The restored museum will offer a space twice as large as before the fire, with plans to display about 10,000 pieces in an area between 6,000 and 7,000 square meters.
"The entire Brazilian population followed the fire and it has been a restoration process. This is an educational, scientific space that will generate opportunities for Brazilians and the population of Rio de Janeiro," remarked Camilo Santana, the Minister of Education, during his visit to the temporary exhibition on October 30.
The historic building, initially serving as the imperial palace of Brazil, housed the largest natural history museum in Latin America before the tragedy. Founded in 1818 by King John VI of Portugal, the museum boasted a collection of about 20 million items, including insects, botanical specimens, archaeological artifacts, and anthropological treasures, making it one of the five largest natural history museums in the world.
In the aftermath of the fire that destroyed approximately 85% of its collection, the museum has reached about 14,000 pieces through a campaign of recomposition. This includes the acquisition of a new sperm whale skeleton and numerous donations from public and private entities.
The UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), responsible for managing the museum, estimates a need to raise an additional R$170 million of the R$500 million necessary to complete the works. The goal is to fully reopen the museum to the public by 2026. Companies such as Vale, Bradesco, and Eletrobras have financed part of the reconstruction, alongside contributions from BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) and the Ministry of Education.
"We have received many pieces, but we have a limit of space for the storage of this new collection. There are many things already promised and removed, but we do not have the complete collection here," stated Andrea Costa, the Deputy Director of the National Museum, discussing the ongoing efforts to rebuild the collection.
Among the restored items is the Bendegó meteorite, which has remained at the National Museum since Emperor Dom Pedro II commanded its relocation in 1888. Found in 1784 near a stream in the interior of Bahia, Brazil, the meteorite is considered one of the museum's treasures and symbolizes its endurance.
The exhibition "Among Giants: An Experience at the National Museum" is free of charge and takes place from Tuesday to Sunday until August 31. Tickets are available on the Sympla platform. Visitors proceed through three environments that intertwine nature, heritage, and art. In the courtyard of the monumental staircase, the highlight is the suspended skeleton of the sperm whale.
Artistic ornaments, both original and replicas, are also on display, along with a series of images documenting the restoration work. The exhibition was organized in partnership with the Projeto Museu Nacional Vive (National Museum Lives Project), a technical cooperation between UFRJ, UNESCO, and Instituto Cultural Vale.
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