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Urban Art of Brazil

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04/10/2014 GMT

BBC World News - Urban Art of Brazil

The Urban Art of Brazil explores Brazil's diverse and politically engaged art.

The Urban Art of Brazil explores Brazil's diverse and politically engaged art and features three very different artists who are at the forefront of the country's contemporary art s

From a giant forest installation invading Sao Paolo's modern art museum to the work of an 80 year-old woman who filled a major European art event with 300 kg of clay, 'The Urban Art of Brazil' explores Brazil's diverse and politically engaged art and features three very different artists who are at the forefront of the country's contemporary art scene.

What these artists share is a willingness to push boundaries, both physical and social, reacting to the realities of the mega-cities they live in, Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. This is explicit in the works of Henrique Oliveira, who creates installations inspired by Sao Paolo's favelas using plywood from building sites, whereas the architectural interventions of Renata Lucas are more subtle. Yet by directly transforming the pavement Lucas questions the notion and necessity of construction in big cities. Anna Maria Maiolino's work spans five decades and challenges not only the physical boundaries but also the social framework of Brazil. Her work uses media as different as sculpture, video and performance and responds to event such as the repressive military regime which emerged after Brazil's 1964 military coup.

One thing is certain, the Brazilian art scene we see in this film isn't afraid to reach out to space beyond that of a conventional gallery.

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