When one walks nearby the Para artist Éder Oliveira while he’s giving the finishing touch to his work, the stride gets slower, more respectful under the strong gaze of his mulattos. Born in Timboteua, Éder brings his research about the dehumanizing of the criminals that takes place daily in the local media back to São Paulo. The mug shots, only portrayal conceivable of the marginalized in the magazines and newspapers, deny the complexity and the profoundness that each and every human being brings in itself, simplifying them to the black and white picture of violent robbers, true monsters alienated to the society. In his works, the artist gives them back their humanity, their life, their dignity. The contrast between the vibrant colors of the portraits and the white, almost ethereal, light of the architecture is powerful. The artist forces the attention of the onlookers, paralyzed by the eyes of the criminals, so alive, aware, that they seem to meet the gaze of the observer with a questioning, accusative look.
[translation: Caio Guerra]
about the authors
Giovanni Pirelli is cultural producer and director of the cultural laboratory Casa do Cactus.
Helena Guerra and Caio Guerra, screenwriters and directors, partners in the film producer Irmãos Guerra Filmes, are autors of documentaries for exhibitions and fictional short films.
Ludovico Schilling is a sound designer and electronic music producer. Born in Milan, nowadays develops his research in London.
credits
text
Giovanni Pirelli
video
Helena Guerra
editing
Caio Guerra
sound
Ludovico Shilling
