Burle Marx and his collaborations: micro-histories of modern dreams in design and of Brazilian micro-landscapes in small Uruguay

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary inquiry into the work of Burle Marx in Uruguay between the decades of 1950 and 1980. In this period, he had some piecemeal collaborations with two pioneers of modern design in Uruguay: Luis García Pardo and Walter Pintos Risso. They attempted to materialize pragmatically the idea of Gesamtkunstwerk, i.e. of total artwork, produced for a local bourgeoisie. This was expressed through architecture, gardens, built-in works of art, such as sculptures and murals, designer furniture and advertising graphic design for their own products.
 
 As research methodology, primary sources were revised, such as document resource centers, which are still not public, press of the day and advertising brochures; the works under study were visited and interviews were conducted with people associated with the work of Burle Marx and the above-mentioned Uruguayan architects.