Curated lecture at the Chicago Cultural Center

Dec 2019

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In conversation with the works by Preta Ferreira and the MST as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial exploring the struggles for housing rights in the city of Sao Paulo, the event will analyze the history of artistic squatting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, inspired by the exportation of the Berlin model and the transformation of squats from platforms to fight against gentrification to active cultural, artistic and educational centers for community building throughout the 2000s. The discussion will focus on the history of the squat Ouvidor 63 as a major example of this movement; an artistic squat occupied in 2014 and currently, the largest squat in Latin America. Located right in the heart of the city, the fourteen floor building harbors more than a hundred artists (circus performers, painters, fashion designers, filmmakers, curators, musicians…) from countless different nationalities, the majority are either Brazilians or from other Latin American countries. Many different artistic collectives, like Atelier Nuventre, Androides Androginos and music bands like Nicolas Nao tem Banda have been originated in the space. It currently hosts an annual Biennial, and artistic and cultural events throughout the year. In the recent years it has evolved into an essential element of the neighborhood and of the city, promoting community engagement and providing social services that are not covered by the government like artistic workshops for children. Ouvidor has also become a safe space for queer artists of color and a place for gathering and cultural production; promoting encounters and collaborations among multidisciplinary artists coming from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds.
Participants/ guest speakers include previous residents of the squat and multidisciplinary self-taught artists Amen Sirius and Luís Só., the later will join us on Skype and will be talking about his experience as one of the co-funding members of the squat. Marina Resende will be participating and facilitating translations.

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Event