Visiting Inhotim: one of the largest open-air museums in the world

In this week's Secret Garden we are visiting the Inhotim Institute. As well as being one of Brazil's most important collections of contemporary art, it is a near 2000-acre botanical garden, and can be found in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais.)

 Above: along the paths of Inhotim

It was originally founded by Bernado Paz in 2004 with the intention of creating a home for his private and extensive art collection, but it opened to the public in 2006. On display are over 700 contemporary works of art from renowned Brazilian and international artists such as Hélio Oiticica, Yayoi Kusama, Olafur Eliasson and Anish Kapoor.

 Above: a 'pavilion' gallery in the botanic garden

Exploring a unique mix of art and nature

The variety of contemporary art works are displayed both outdoors and in the numerous pavilion gallery spaces throughout the botanical garden (there are 23!). The garden itself is home to over 5,000 rare botanic plant species from all over the world.

 Above: De Lama Lâmina [From Mud, a Blade] by Matthew Barney

Things to see in Inhotim

One of the most interesting works is  Sonic Pavilion  by Doug Aitken. For the installation of this piece, a hole was dug beneath the ground, 1 mile deep, and lined with concrete. An array of microphones and accelerometers were placed inside at different depths. From the surface, inside the pavilion, you can hear the live sounds of the earth in motion; its rotation and the movements of seismic plates, amplified over the loudspeakers.

Above: Outside Sonic Pavilion by Doug Aitken

 Above: Troca Troca by Jarbas Lopez

Above: Invenção da cor, Penetrável Magic square #5, De luxe (seen across the lake) by Hélio Oiticica

The botanic garden

As well as being recognised as an important site for contemporary art, Inhotim was recognised by the Comissão Nacional de Jardins Botânicos (National Commission of Botanical Gardens) with the official title of Botanical Garden in 2010.

The garden's diversity makes it a perfect site for scientific research and education.  Its extensive collection is home to many endangered species of plants which face extinction in their natural habitats.

There is also a specialist laboratory dedicated to biodiversity conservation. Here, scientists can propagate rare species of vegetal plants, allowing them to be preserved. There is a seed bank with nearly a quarter of a million seeds, where specimens are exchanged with other botanical gardens and their researchers across the world.

Above: plants at Inhotim

How to get to Inhotim

Travel: Inhotim is located 60km from Belo Horizonte, where you can get a transfer or bus. There is free parking for visitors arriving by car. Once inside, you can either walk through this amazing botanical garden (you may need to allow several days to see all the works on display) or get around on Inhotim's in-house transportation service. The electric cart route has stop off points around the different paths, so you can explore every corner.

Entry: BRL 25 for a one day adult ticket, with several day passports and concessions available.

Opening times: Wednesday-Sunday, 9.30am-4.30pm (5.30pm on the weekend)

Visit the Inhotim website for more information and to book tickets