Destruction of millions of art in the storming of the Brazilian Congress

On January 1, thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the conference in the capital, Brasilia. The attack was a protest against the swearing in of the country’s new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

As the protesters entered, several chaotic scenes unfolded in the Palacío do Planalto (the workplace of the president), in the Congress and in the Supreme Court. Among other things, many works of art were damaged.

Found art floating in the water – indoors

Among the damaged works is contemporary artist Emiliano Di Cavalcanti’s “Mulattas” from 1962, in which the canvas has been perforated. According to the government, the painting is worth the equivalent of SEK 15.6 million.

Jorge Eduardo’s painting “Bandera do Brasil” from 1995, which represents the Brazilian flag, was also damaged. The work was found floating in the water covering the floor of the Palacío do Planalto, as a result of protesters vandalizing the palace’s fire hydrants.

Sculptures by artists Bruno Giorgi and Franz Krajkberg were also damaged.

1200 detainees

The seat of the Brazilian government is considered one of the country’s greatest treasures of modernist art – how much was destroyed and at what cost is still being investigated.

So far, more than 1,200 people have been arrested in the wake of the protests, according to the country’s Ministry of Justice.