13 February - 22 May A major festival of art, music, film, theatre and dance celebrating Tropicalia - the cultural revolution that re-defined Brazilian art, music and fashion in the 1960s and beyond. In February 2006, as Brazil prepares itself for Carnival, the Barbican launches a major, three-month festival entitled Tropicalia, celebrating a revolutionary movement in Brazilian culture.

Tropicália took its name from an installation created by Brazilian artist, Hélio Oiticica in 1967 and subsequently became the title of one of the most celebrated albums in Brazilian music history, featuring Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Os Mutantes.

The Tropicália movement was a passionate and intelligently articulated response to military dictatorship and the ultimate counter-cultural statement - a true revolution that re-defined Brazilian arts and re-shaped Brazilian identity. It was to be a brief explosion of cultural transformation and upheaval, spanning a period of no more than five years, from 1967 to 1972. Some would say that it ended only a year after it began, with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil’s arrest in December 1968. What is clear is that Tropicália changed Brazil forever.

Although the original movement was crushed by an authoritarian regime, the influence and irrepressible spirit of Tropicália continued to spread. While musical experimenters from David Bowie and David Byrne to Beck and, most recently, The Bees cite the eclectic music of Tropicália as an influence, the groundbreaking nature of the visual art has only recently begun to be fully appreciated. Ironically, Gilberto Gil, one of the prime architects of Tropicália and one-time thorn in the side of the then military regime, is now Minister Of Culture in the government of President Lula. In the joyously anarchic spirit of Tropicália, Gil juggles his music career and politics with some style, regularly getting his guitar out and singing songs in the middle of government meetings. The time to celebrate, to investigate and to reappraise the events and the lasting legacy of Tropicália has well and truly arrived.

Tropicalia features the following events (announced so far):

Tropicália 16 Feb 06 - 21 May 06 / 18:00, 20:00 / Barbican Art Gallery Tropicália Guided Tours 18 Feb 06 - 21 May 06 / 14:30 / Barbican Art Gallery The Tropicália Experience - Samba Dancing 18 Feb 06 - 21 May 06 / 15:30 / Barbican Art Gallery The Tropicália Experience – The Tour 18 Feb 06 / 16:30 / Barbican Art Gallery Butch Queen Realness with a Twist in Pastel Colours 19 Feb 06 / 14:00 / Barbican Art Gallery

Tropicália Now
19 Feb 06 / 16:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

Tropicália: Disorder and Progress
22 Feb 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

Macunaima (12A)
one of the most significant films of the Tropicalist movement.
22 Feb 06 / 20:30 / Cinema 2

Can Arts Control Arms?
28 Feb 06 / 19:45 / Barbican Theatre

From the Favela to the World: In Conversation AfroReggae
1 Mar 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

Favela Rising (cert tbc)
AfroReggae as a tool against oppression
1 Mar 06 / 20:30 / Cinema 3

AfroReggae
From the Favela to the World
3 - 4 Mar 06 / 19:45 / Barbican Theatre
KNOW MORE

The Architecture of Lina Bo Bardi 8 Mar 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery Family Workshop: Trying on Tropicália No unaccompanied adults. For children aged 7–11 and their families. Children must be Accompanied by Adult and everyone needs a Ticket 11 - 12 Mar 06 / 13:00 / Barbican Art Gallery Adult Workshop: Experience the Experimental 11 - 12 Mar 06 / 16:30 / Barbican Art Gallery When was Tropicália? 15 Mar 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

Tropicália: Navigating Boundaries
22 Mar 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

What has Tropicália got to do with London?
Artist David Medalla discusses Tropicália and British
artists during the 1960s and 70s.
29 Mar 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery
Anos De Chunbo: The Years of Lead
12 Apr 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery

Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker
Knot
25 - 29 Apr 06 / 19:45 / Barbican Theatre

Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker Post Show Talk
26 Apr 06 / 21:05 / Barbican Theatre

Tom Ze + special guests 1 May 06 / 19:30 / Barbican Hall Tropicália and its Musical Legacy 3 May 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery What is the Legacy of Tropicália? 10 May 06 / 18:30 / Barbican Art Gallery VENUE: Barbican Centre Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS Nearest tube: Barbican Main Switchboard: 020 7638 4141 Box Office: 020 7638 8891 9am-8pm daily FURTHER INFO AND BOOKINGS: www.barbican.org.uk/tropicalia