City of God, Rio de Janeiro: Community Art

The City of God-- Cidade de Deus-- a poor community on Rio de Janeiro's west side that was made famous around the world for crime, extreme violence and poverty by the 2002 hit film by the same name. Having spent a great deal of time living and working in this community over the last 3 years, I have experienced much more of the positive side than the negative: the warmth of the people, the vibrant culture and the dedication of local institutions in the face of decades of neglect by the State. I partnered with a local Anglican church and four community organizations (ASVI, CEACC, Casa da Santa Ana and Alfazendo) in order to create four murals that combine familiar biblical stories with imagery of local people, history and social issues. The project began in 2010 and continued with a second phase in 2011, and included weeks of workshops in which local children, teens, adults and elders came together to learn and share their experiences with each other. The workshops focused on public art, local history and the relevant biblical texts, all of which went into the designs for the murals. Special thanks to Father Nicholas and all the participants of the project, it's been a great experience working with you all!

This tryptic features a combination of the City of God community and imagery from the biblical City of God, known as the New Jerusalem, a utopian vision of the future in both the New and Old Testaments. The concept of this mural is to use the name of the neighborhood as inspiration for a future free from the social problems and inequalities of today.

This vision of the community, inspired by the biblical vision, portrays a future where the river is no longer polluted, and people are able to live happy, healthy lives. 

The names on the gates in the background are the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Old Testament the sheep represents the tribes. For Christians the lamb represents Jesus.

Detail, portraying the suffering and pain that is to be left behind.

detail

detail: the background incorporates the abstract expressions of the participants as well as stencil art reflecting ancient cultures from around the world, from the Egyptians to the Aztecs to the Greeks.

The mural was preceded by two weeks of workshops with local youth, adults and the elderly. Together, we learned about art, community history, and how the biblical City of God can inspire our modern-day social issues.

Participants decorated the mural with their own expressions

hand art!

Two of the most enthusiastic artists: Karen and Carlos

Painting the shorter wall, which tells the story of the community

Time line: the story of the City of God

In 1964, the government hired architect to design a new community for workers who would build the new Barra da Tijuca beach neighborhood, as well as people from various favelas (shanty towns) around Rio de Janiero. 

In the mid-60's, several disasters, such as a fire in the favela Praia do Pinto and a huge flood, led to masses of favela residents to come to the City of God. The government was accused of attempting to get rid of favelas in richer areas of the city, sending the poor to the City of God, which was then a far-away and isolated community.

Though the government had created the neighborhood, they quickly abandoned it. With the absence of the State, the neighborhood had a great deal of poverty, violence, and lack of services. Beginning in the '80's, drug dealers effectively controlled the community, and shootouts with police and rival factions were common.

With the absence of the State, the residents organized themselves, creating organizations, churches, and other institutions. This scene portrays a resident meeting and capoeira classes for kids.

There were many important community leaders that emerged over the course of the decades, including Padre Julio, Dona  Geralda, João Batista, and Dona Benta.

The City of God boasts many artists of all types, including the samba composer and singer Dona Tuca and the rapper MV Bill. 

In 1996 a terrible flood killed many people and destroyed property in the neighborhood. 

In 2002, the film "City of God" suddenly made this once-obscure community world-famous. Some welcomed the attention, while others were angered that the film gave residents a bad reputation, as the stigma against the community became strong and had many repercussions. 

In 2008, the military police invaded the community and occupied it for good, expelling the drug dealing gang that had controlled it for decades. This was part of a new program of "pacifying" favelas in Rio in the lead-up to the World Cup and Olympics. in 2009 a permanent "pacifying police unit," known as UPP, was installed in the City of God, and since that time the gun violence that made the neighborhood famous is no more.

The new era is represented by construction, as there have been many new projects by the government, including new roads, a 24 hour medical post, a subsidized restaurant that sells extremely cheap lunches, and more. These developments have been welcomed by most residents, though after decades of neglect there is much more that needs to be done.

The final panel shows children, who will be the future of the community, and will live the next chapters of its history.

The Garden of Eden: Brazil style! painted during the 2010 project

detail from the Garden of Eden mural

  


Participants from the 2010 project. To check out the project blog with lots of great photos from the art workshops, mural painting, and our inauguration event, click here. 

A Brazilian family meal, reminiscent of the Last Supper, painted during the 2010 project

The Exodus, the favela... detail from the Last Supper mural

"3 Gerações" (3 Generations), painted in 2009 the City of God, shows three generations of men, all looking toward the next for guidance, love, and support.