Getting to the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro on foot ain’t easy. Unfortunately, the car prevailed again and the museum is somewhat cut off from its neighborhood by a huge 8-lane semi-highway to the city airport, and a huge crossing of other streets nearby.

Only passage over to the MAM and the bay is a nicely swung foot bridge but it’s quite a detour and you’re surrounded by the noise of traffic. You just wish they had banned those cars in an underground tunnel and made it all a park….

Ok, enough ranting about traffic already.

The building of the MAM, built in the 1950s and designed by the architect Affonso Eduardo Reidy, did not impress me at first. One word: concrete. And you know that does not age very well, in this climate, or in Berlin (think of how awful he new chancellery looks one decade after inauguration…)

It reminded me of a big school building. Ok, the grey cloudy sky added to that impression, it sure looks better with a bright blue one.

Inside however, the concrete walls were an interesting feature. Especially those walls that, even on the inside, have already decayed, suffered the typical water traces or brownish spots from the rusting iron inside… However, that was a great combo with the art hanging on those walls.

I especially liked the circular stairs. The museum hosts a number of Brazilian modern artists, no one I had ever heard of I have to admit, but a nice collection to stroll through. They feature all kinds of art: paintings, statues, various (weird) objects, photography… you name it.

Thank God their store was rather small and limited. I tend to buy too much museum merchandise, something I will not be able to uphold on this trip.

So I refrained from buying their T-shirt with their nicely designed logo. However, one thing caught my eye: A ‘mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios‘ magnet for my future fridge in my future appartment. Had to have it.