Favela Painting Project

Using Art to Inspire Social Transformation

Urhahn and Koolhaas originally traveled to the favelas of Rio to produce a hip hop documentary. After spending time with the residents of Vila Cruzeiro, however, they felt inspired to make an artistic statement that could bring lasting benefits to the community. In 2007, the duo took up residence in the favela, consulting with residents on how to approach repainting the neighborhood. With the help of Nanko van Buuren, founder of the Brazilian Institute for Innovations in Social Healthcare (IBISS), the artists even negotiated permission to work in the neighborhood from a notorious local drug kingpin. 

With members of the community involved at every step – consulting on colors, designs and other visual aspects of the project – Haas&Hahn created the Rio Cruzeiro, transforming a 2000-square-meter drainage ditch into a vibrant river filled with koi fish. In 2010, Urhahn and Koolhaas returned to Rio to paint 34 houses surrounding the plaza of Praça Cantão, hiring 25 residents to work on the project. The initiative eventually led to the creation of the Favela Painting Foundation, a locally-run organization that became the basis for future projects.

Creating Lasting Community Bonds

Urhahn and Koolhaas eventually transported their favela concept to other neglected neighborhoods throughout the world, including urban renovation programs in Philadelphia, Port-Au-Prince and Curaçao. The artists have also overseen housing beautification initiatives for refugees in Greece and the Netherlands. In the midst of these projects, they have continued to return to the site of their original inspiration. In 2017 they launched an ambitious plan to perform upkeep on their earlier work in Vila Cruzeiro, while renovating a number of additional dwellings in the surrounding neighborhood.

Dubbed Project Santa Helena, the new initiative spurred a creative revolution in the favela. Because the original Koi paintings had become faded and barely visible, a team of women from the community received training in mosaic techniques, so they could remake the images in a more durable medium. At the same time, local stonemasons began to incorporate pigmented lime stucco – a more environmentally sustainable material than cement – and painted tiles into the walls of residential buildings. In the process of restoring the structures, the workers also made much-needed upgrades to the wiring and walls, improving the appearance and quality of the dwellings. Meanwhile, young people from the neighborhood served as project apprentices, learning the techniques of the craft. 

Promoting Well-Being Through Creative Expression

Despite the spirit of hope and inclusiveness associated with the Favela Painting Project, some observers remain unconvinced of its capacity to deliver meaningful improvements. Some critics have pointed out that the beautification initiatives do nothing to improve the neighborhood’s crumbling infrastructure, which is one of the biggest obstacles to long-term change. 

Urhahn has conceded that Haas&Hahn’s project is inherently limited. “Wages haven’t risen and the number of jobs hasn’t risen,” he told Williams. On the other hand, the artist argues that improving the visual atmosphere of a community can offer psychological benefits not captured by economic analysis. “People take a bit more pride and care in their street,” he said. “It’s not just that it looks nicer, it’s also that they finally feel some attention has been given to their neighbourhood.”

Indeed, the Favela Painting Project represents a first step in reimagining meaningful social action. Despite their project’s small scope, Haas&Hahn believe that engaging residents of low-income communities in the work of improving their living conditions can inspire a shared commitment to the greater good. As the artists told Katherine Brooks in 2016: “We merely create interventions, that hopefully ignite some other change – and try to have fun while doing so.”

Contributor: Stephen Meyer