Through a series of 30 paintings, the series Favelas depicts Morro do Papagaio in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. More importantly, Favelas is a social and political statement about Brazil and the Brazilian people. The dripping paint seen on the canvas represents the pain and sorrow I felt at a time when Brazilians were enduring the biggest ethical scandal to plague the country in our lifetime. At the same time, through scenes of their day-to-day lives, Favelas also captures the heart, spirit, and resilience of the Brazilian people. Through Favelas, I aimed to bring awareness and spread love by humanizing the Brazilian struggle. After all, life does not give up, and neither should we.
