Dutch Artists Bring the Rainbow to Rio Slums - Brazil - Gawker
Dutch Artists Bring the Rainbow to Rio Slums
After an assignment filming a hip-hop documentary in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn (better known as Haas&Hahn) decided to add their own flair to the neighborhood and help the community at the same time.
That's when their rainbow hued Favela Painting project started, turning the once drab shanty town into something that is like Dorothy's Technicolor Oz fantasy world. And they employ the youth who live in the homes to do the painting, which brings extra jobs to the area.
There is rarely anything sexy about charity work, but Haas&Haan have succeeded in "bringing art to unexpected places" and creating some hope in an otherwise drab atmosphere. And you thought no good could ever possibly come out of an MTV hip-hop documentary.
Send an email to Brian Moylan, the author of this post, at brian@gawker.com.
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Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.I wonder if this will have the effect of raising the property value and making the rent too expensive for the current residents to live there? Or are they government projects? Reply
Great story! The aesthetics of an environment have an effect on people's moods and behavior even on a subconscious level. Reply
I understand it is only a superficial change and does nothing of lasting note to shift people out of poverty but, I love it. Everybody deserves the pretty! Reply
This reminds me of Tirana's painted buildings. Edi Rama, the artist turned mayor, began having them painted to reinvigorate the capital that was crippled by communism. Great stuff.
Here's a link to a gallery of the painted buildings: [www.gadling.com]
(Oh and it is surprising that something good came out of an MTV doc.) Reply
Edited by Cunning_Linguist at 05/17/10 2:59 PM
Well that should make them forget their soul numbing hunger. Well done Hansel and Gretel. ReplyMount_Prion promoted this comment
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