RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The urban art exhibition “Rua Walls” officially opens on Sunday, September 27th, gathering 18 artists whose works were painted on the walls of the Rio de Janeiro Port, between warehouses 10 and 18 of Rodrigues Alves Avenue, in the central region of the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. The artists converted 1.5 kilometers of the warehouses’ walls into works of art.
The public urban art project “Rua Walls” can be freely enjoyed by anyone. The murals were painted over a month, at dawn. The artists involved in the project are Agrade Camís, Amorinha, Bruno Lyfe, Célio, Chica Capeto, Diego Zelota, Doloroes Esos, Flora, Yumi, Igor SRC, Leandro Assis, Luna Bastos, Mariê Balbinot, Marlon Muk, Miguel Afa, Paula Cruz, Thiago Haule, Vinicius Mesquita and Ziza. The tactical urbanism project was designed by Visionartz production company, which has been promoting urban revitalization actions for over ten years, which are always associated with social development through art.
According to the Companhia Docas’ communication department, the investment was funded by the Municipal Law of Incentive to Culture (ISS Law), and by the port terminal leasing companies: ICTSI Rio, Multiterminais, Rio de Janeiro Wheat Terminal (TTRJ) and Triunfo Logistics.
The “Rua Walls” project is considered a tool for social inclusion, because 90 percent of the team is comprised of residents from favela communities near Morro do Pinto and Morro da Providência, who were trained on several work fronts. Artistic painting was also performed on the walls of the General Mitre Municipal School, located in Morro do Pinto.
“Rua Walls” also contributed to the enlargement of the library for youths, designed by the residents of the Providência favela, as well as to the development of the first organic garden on Morro do Pinto, which will be managed by the residents and is a sustainable project in its entire chain.