The Morrinho Project at the Venice Biennale

Images taken from:

 http://we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2007/08/the-morrinho-pr.php

I also came across this finding during my tutorial with Hannah, it's absolutely brilliant!

In 1998, children from shantytowns on the hills of Rio de Janerio built up and created a minature reproduction of their favela (shantytown). The model has been created by using bricks and other materials which have been left over from building their own homes. The model covers quite a large area, approximately 300 square metres. The children have re-created scenes of everyday life within their favela, such as dance events to confrontations between rival gangs. This has been achieved by inhabiting the model with various toys such as plastic cars, various minature figurines etc.

The model of the favela was originally mistaken for a war plan because it is so accurate. Nonetheless, since 2001, the brick favela has travelled all over the world and gained recognition as a result of a documentaty that was created about it by filmaker Fabio Gaviao. One of the lastest places that a part of the brick favela has resided in is at the prestigious Venice Biennale, which is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice.  

This goes to show that the children who created the model of their favela within a context where they were perhaps 'playing', has been interpreted, recognised, and appreciated as art. The product created by the children has also made an impact and contributed to the social and economical development of the region and indeed the surronding area in which the model was orginally created. For example, bringing money into the area through guided tours of the model, and other television/community projects.

I really like this piece of work. In particular, I especially admire the fact that the children were creating and participating in art without even realising it, and creating something that was meaningful and relevant to their lives, environment, and context.