Graffiti Project Covering 10,000 m² in Downtown São Paulo is Now Underway

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The piece, which already covers six of the buildings’ walls, began to be painted on the façades of a plot of land on the corner of Rua Major Sertório and Rua Bento Freitas, in downtown São Paulo, near the Copan building.

The intention is to break the Guinness record for the world’s largest mural and also to raise awareness on environmental and urban issues.

Project boss Kleber Pagú said, “The Urban Aquarium is divided into several topics, we are redefining a space. This is one of the main crossroads in downtown São Paulo, close to (landmark) buildings such as Copam, Hilton, Italia.”

“So when we do an art installation of this proportion, which is the largest open-air art in the world, we have to consider what we want to say beyond aesthetics and here our theme is global warming and over-consumption,” added Pagú.

According to the cultural producer, the piece also empowers people in their relationship with the city. “It makes [São Paulo] more attractive, more touristy, it involves the creative economy, because painting will bring more people and affect everyone and business in its surroundings,” he said.

Pagú explained that the work is an independent project that began in 2017. Once the area was established, he asked for the buildings’ permissions, which would take part at no cost. He said that many smaller buildings even asked to join the project.

“It is an independent project, and as an independent project we seek support from a paint manufacturer, which has contributed over R$500,000 in paint and with a pumping platform company, in short, it is a fully cooperative and independent project.”

The project, which will take up four blocks in the region, is already attracting the attention of those passing by.

According to the cultural producer, the graffiti should be ready by Carnaval in 2020. Until then, those who want to see the complete work may access the Aquário Urbano app for a 360º immersion.

With the help of virtual reality goggles, one can position oneself at “point zero” and interact with the sounds of the seafloor and with the animals in motion.

“Then you put it on your cell phone and you can see everything that we are painting with the app and the development of virtual reality in 3D animation, and everything on the wall is animated in the goggles, including sound and image – you can access the work virtually from anywhere in the world,” said Pagú.

Source: Agência Brasil