The community-driven art project is meant to confront the negative imagery of informal settlements in Rio de Janeiro. Photo by Leonel Ponce.
Dutch artistic duo Haas&Hahn worked with local residents to create a piece of art out of painted favelas, or informal housing settlements, in Brazil. The duo attempted the piece to counter the negative coverage and imagery of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“To Rio’s beauticians, the city’s favelas are disfigurements, unsightly patches of brown that stain the landscape,” says an article in the Art Review. “They disturb the city’s image, not only because of how they look, but because of what they represent. They are the embodiment of Rio’s failure, the consequence of a city’s inability to accommodate all of its citizens, physically and culturally.”
By casting the housing developments as a community-driven art piece, the artists have created a landmark and a monument of inspiration for Rio. Praça Cantão, the duo’s latest favela painting project, spans 34 houses and covers 7,000 square meters. In order to reflect the true spirit of the community, the artists embed themselves into the culture, living in the favelas during the creation of the piece.
“Using a grassroots-based bottom-up approach has proven to be a key factor in the success and final results,” explains an article in the Wooster Collective. “In order to generate support and approval for their activities, the artists always make the favela their home. By spending their time within the local community, they’re able to connect to their surroundings more easily, wining the hearts and minds of people.”
Praça Cantão wrapped up in 2010 but the artists remain active in the art world, exhibiting solo projects.
Read more about the project and the artists here.
