Favelization in Art
The book Favelization does not discuss art. However, I have been compiling examples of the use of references to favelas (or representations of favelas) in photography, installations, and performance. Below are a few works that have caught my attention. How art fits into a discussion about favelization is something I have yet to explore.
Favela Café Installation. 2013. Location: Art Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Artists: Tadashi Kawamata (Japan), Christophe Scheidegger (Switzerland).
1. Video of making of a cafe terrace in front of the Messe Hall at time of the Art Basel Fair (June 11-18, 2013)
2. Video of a police action attempting to shut down a gathering of 150 people who came together to “occupy” Favela Café on June 14, 2013
Installation, "Favela Café' 2013. Tadashi Kawamata and Christophe Scheidegger.
"Art Basel commissioned the artist Tadashi Kawamata to create an art installation on Messeplatz. 'Favela Café', which was in situ for the duration of the show, and referenced an earlier work by the artist entitled 'People's Garden', 1992, which was exhibited at Documenta IX. The work consisted of 18 huts grouped on and around the fountain area on Messeplatz, connected by walkways, providing seating areas as well as fully operating cafés and bars for the show's visitors and the public. Now that the show has closed, Art Basel will provide the 'Landestelle' project in Basel with the physical elements of the structure, for it to be used for the next five years in a different configuration as a bar and restaurant with community garden, located within the harbor area of Basel."
The World Stage: Brazil Paintings. 2008. Artist: Kehinde Wiley (USA)
From top left to bottom right:
1. Cover of book entitled Kehinde Wiley: The World Stage Brazil, 2010. Kehinde Wiley.
2. "Jonaton Schimitt Barcellos", 2008. Kehinde Wiley.
3. "Anderson S. da Fonseca", 2009. Kehinde Wiley.
4. "Vagner Rodrigues Gomes", 2009. Kehinde Wiley.
5. "Santos Dumont - The Father of Aviation III", 2009. Kehinde Wiley.
6. "Alegoria a Lei do Ventre Livre", 2009. Kehinde Wiley.
Women Are Heroes - Brazil Photography and intervention. 2008. Location of Production: Morro da Providência, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Artist: JR (France)
Video: Making of "Women Are Heroes"
From top left to bottom right:
1. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, Tree, Moon, Horizontal", 2008. JR.
2. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, In action", 2008. JR.
3. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, Steps", 2008. JR.
4. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, Steps", 2008. JR.
5. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, Ilsa", 2008. JR.
6. "Intervention in the Favela Morro da Providência, China House By Night", 2008. JR.