A remarkable tribute to Oscar Niemeyer by Kobra
When we cross Paulista Avenue at the financial district of São Paulo, we feel astonished with the fabulous work of art made by Kobra, a well-known Brazilian mural artist. I can not say better than Jaime Rojo and Steven Harrigton mentioned for the Huffington Post website, with photos of Alan Teixeira.
"Kobra Pays Honor to Architect Niemeyer in São Paulo
Posted: 02/18/2013 8:57 am
Brazilian Street Artist Eduardo Kobra and four other painters have been working six hours a day since January 14th to complete a 52 meter high mural that honors architect Oscar Niemeyer who passed away in December just days before his 105th birthday. Covering the entire side of a skyscraper on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo's financial district, the artwork is inspired by Niemeyer's architecture, his love of concrete and Le Corbusier.
If you look closely among the colorful forms that overlay the photo-realistic portrait, you'll find that some of them are based on Niemeyer's works. In this case, art on the street could not find a more fitting tributary than a modern architect who espoused populist sentiments that his field should serve everyone, not just the privileged few.
Eduardo Kobra. Installation in progress. São Paulo, Brazil. (photo © Alan Teixeira)
Eduardo Kobra. Detail. São Paulo, Brazil. (photo © Alan Teixeira)
"Oscar Niemeyer was an important figure to us," explains Kobra during a break from painting, as he talks about the Rio born citizen of the world and Brazil's modernist icon, "The decision to paint this here reminds us of the importance of the several works he did in the city. Given their relevance even today, I think he deserved this great space on Paulista Avenue."
The logistics and costs of this labor of love have been as great at the mural is high. Beginning in the early autumn, the process included getting permission from the building and city hall, placing the scaffolds, agreeing on and setting the design, and buying the paint. "In the end, the paperwork was the most difficult part and I wanted to get it all resolved so I could paint the mural," explains the artist.
"Furthermore it was a very expensive project. The staff of the building gave us the paint, the André Art Gallery helped us with the equipment, there was a hotel near the building that hosted us and we also got a restaurant to help us with food. This project relied upon genuine cultural support and it could only happen because of it," says Kobra. "For this project we didn't receive a penny of compensation -- we are doing it for the pleasure of doing a job here at Paulista, the most important avenue in São Paulo."
Eduardo Kobra. Detail. São Paulo, Brazil. (photo © Alan Teixeira)
Eduardo Kobra. Detail. São Paulo, Brazil. (photo © Alan Teixeira)
Eduardo Kobra. Detail. São Paulo, Brazil. (photo © Alan Teixeira)"
The Benedictine Monastery
Located in the old downtown of São Paulo, the Benedictine Monastery is one of the treasures of the city.
Aerial view of the Benedictine complex, projected by the German architect Richard Bernl and built between 1910 and 1912
The facade of the church
The clock from Germany, considered for decades, the most accurate in the city.
The entrance of the traditional School of Saint Benedictine and the Theology University
Pope Benedictine XVI stayed at the monastery when he visited Brazil in 2007. From the balcony, where we see a sunblind, he blessed the catholic crowd who came to see him.
Art in phone booths
The telephone booths are useless and disappeared in several countries. However in Brazil, where a lot of people have no money for the mobiles, the public telephones are still needed.
Based on a creative initiative that mixed art and communication, a Brazilian telecommunication company has invited several artists to express their art in 100 phone booths spread out in the city.
The project named "Call Parade" was quite successful by involving the population and educating people to respect and take care of the devices. After that the phone booths stopped to be vandalized and destroyed as well as the city got new colours and fun.
The project named "Call Parade" was quite successful by involving the population and educating people to respect and take care of the devices. After that the phone booths stopped to be vandalized and destroyed as well as the city got new colours and fun.
"Acupunture" of the artist Cris Azevedo
"Graphically speaking" of the street art designer Arlin
"Papagalia" of the Brazilian painter Claudio Tozzi
"Hello disco" of the graphic designer Emilia Akemi
"The girl wearing hood" of the street artist Alexandre Truff
The funny "Vivo connected" of the 52-year old plastic artist Juarez Fagundes
2013 Confederations Cup
The official match ball of 2013 Confederations Cup, exposed in São Paulo city, at Paulista Ave.
The Adidas ball, whose name is Cafusa - the combination of three strong elements of the Brazilian culture: carnival, football and samba.
The logo of the 2013 Confederations Cup that will be held in six different cities in Brazil: Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte in the southeast region; Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza in the northeast region and Brasilia in the central west of the country.
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