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Once again, it can be demonstrated that art can be another way of communicating, examining and humanizing important internal and external human conflicts.  It helps the viewer become more informed and more involved than they otherwise would have been, prior to experiencing the art work image and its accompanying story.

In Brazil, South America’s biggest and most influential country, with a population of 200 million people (BBC. 2014, May 6); where it is known to be the country of football – art is being used to highlight the daily struggles of its people.  Brazil is currently in preparation to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio.  These forthcoming events are attracting huge global interest in Brazil and has given Brazilians an opportunity to have a voice that is being heard worldwide. BBC’s Documentary series helps shed some insight into what it is meant to “Being Brazilian” (BBC. 2014, May 6).

One of the ways that Brazilian people are highlighting Brazilian life is through Graffiti Street Art.  Street artists in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are using the streets as canvases within open-air galleries for their graffiti art work as a way to express discontent (The Guardian. 2014, May 24).  Brazilian Graffiti Artist Paulo Ito on May 10, posted this mural on the doors of a schoolhouse in Sao Paulo’s Pompeia district.  It has become an international sensation, sweeping the Internet after Paulo Ito posted it to his Flickr account. Since then it has been prolifically shared on Facebook and Twitter (McDonald, S. 2014, May 23).  It depicts a “portrait image of a weeping, starving Brazilian child with nothing to eat but a soccer ball” (Stahl. 2014, May 23).

Paulo Ito – Brazilian Graffiti Street Artist Mural Ref: Mosbergen. D. (May 21 2014). The Huffington Post. Street Artist Captures The Sheer Irony of Brazil’s World Cup in Heartbreaking Image. [Photograph ID: Paulo Ito Mural]. Retrieved 5th May 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/21/brazil-world-cup-poverty-paulo-ito_n_5362373.html?utm_hp_ref=arts&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000027

Paulo Ito – Graffiti artist in The Guardian’s video “Brazil’s graffiti art in support of World Cup protest” talks about the demonstrations in his country and how worthwhile they are, whilst the world has their eyes on Brazil!

“These demonstrations are extremely worthwhile at this moment in time as the whole world is looking at Brazil.  It’s a good way to expose the country’s problems.  If the government does not want to expose these things it is because they feel ashamed.  If they feel ashamed by this they might take it more seriously, at least that is our intention.”

What I have learned through Paulo Ito is that “Graffiti Street Art” is for all people because of its accessibility in open-air galleries; it’s not confined to formal indoor galleries, corporate boardrooms and people’s homes.  Paulo Ito’s story is proof that art along with their accompanying story, can inform us, make us think, have us react and take action!  It can be shared with many and with the use of social media, it can be shared with the world – how good is that…

Whilst you are here – please check out my my home page!  I hope you will continue to join on my art therapy journey…Karen Robinson

Ref:  BBC. (2014, May 6). The Documentary – Being Brazilian. Episode 1 of 2. BBC Online. Audio. Retrieved May 15, 2014 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01y59xs

Ref:  McDonald, S. (2014, May 23). Morning Mix. What effect will Paulo Ito’s painting have on the World Cup? The Washington Post Online. Retrieved May 25, 2014 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/05/23/what-effect-will-paulo-itos-painting-have-on-the-world-cup/

Ref:  Stahl, J. (2014, May 23). Slate. SBS. Brazilian Street artist Creates World Cup’s first viral image.Retrieved May 24, 2014 from http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/05/23/brazilian-street-artist-creates-world-cups-first-viral-image

Ref:  The Guardian. (2014, May 24). Brazil’s graffiti art in support of World Cup protest. Video. Retrieved May 24, 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/may/24/brazil-graffiti-art-support-world-cup-protest-video

Whilst you are here – please check out my my home page!  I hope you will continue to join on my art therapy journey…Karen Robinson