Brazilian Favelas "Slums" - Shoes boxes

Made from shoe boxes, used school paper, trash, printed materials, wire (for painting), magazines, acrylic paint, and old screws, avocado net (packing), cotton swabs, etc.                                                                                     _

For those who don’t know me, I’m Brazilian! (That’s how Brazilians introduce themselves—before even saying their names, they proudly declare, “I’m Brazilian!” 😄 And I’m no different!). I've been living in the USA for the past 10 years. Recently, I had the chance to visit Brazil for the first time since moving, and it was also my children's first time experiencing the country. They were shocked by the sheer size and number of favelas (slums) and impoverished communities we saw while driving through São Paulo and Maceió, where my family lives. I was taken aback as well. When you live there, it becomes somewhat normalized, but after so many years away, I had forgotten just how harsh the conditions are for so many people.

Seeing these conditions was deeply saddening, but at the same time, I had a lot of fun working on the "favela" project. My kids were actively involved, helping to add "graffiti" to the walls, making the soccer ball, painting, and, most importantly, asking tough questions that made me reflect even more.

My recent trip to Brazil really made me think about the people living in such difficult conditions, without access to basic infrastructure. The sheer number of Brazilians living in these communities, especially in the Southeast (Rio and São Paulo), was truly shocking. It also took me back to when I visited several favelas in Rio over two decades ago.

One thing that stood out to me in the "Rocinha" and "Vidigal" favelas in Rio was how happy the people seemed, despite the many hardships they face. Another unforgettable observation was how these communities have their own set of rules, almost like an informal government. For example, it’s not acceptable for a man to hit a woman, but interestingly, it’s also not acceptable for a woman to hit a man.

To help brainstorm ideas for this project, I turned to AI. After receiving the initial results, I asked for further details to add more depth and color. Some of the outcomes you can see below are the result of that process, and I’m especially grateful that my kids played a key role in shaping the final outcome.

You know what? This favela sketch/sculpture has been sitting on a shelf in my garage, but almost every weekend, when my kids are playing Lelo, they ask me to bring it back inside so they can play with it. I love it!

The work is part of a Sketching Sculpture projects (UWLAX Fall 2024) - see other project/tasks here: https://www.canva.com/design/D...