Youngers artwork on one of school doors



Colours, individuality, beauty

Walls all scribbled. In almost all places we see that the city is uglier due on it. But many youngers are doing something different: not dirt, but the art called "grafitagem". This word comes from of the Latin word "graffito", that means "written done with coal".

The street art was born on the decades of 60 and 70, in New York. Now, in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, in Brazil, mixed up with the hip-hop sound (a type of modern black music), many youngers are cultivating the art of graphite, making pretty and colored drawings with spray and ink on city streets.

One sample is the group of youngers that are into a public school on Higienópolis quarter, on Rio de Janeiro, called Clovis Monteiro. The walls of the school had been transformed into spaces where local youngers are developing their art.



Youngers artwork on one of school doors

These adolescents form a group that was formed through a project called "Peace Schools". One of project activities was "grafitagem" workshops and it seems that thought more than this to the youngers.

Igor Guimarães, 20 years, for instance, is one of this youngers of the group. He is a rock musician, plays on punk rock band and is one of the pupils oldest of the course. He explains the union of the group: "As in music, in the "grafitagem" the thought is free. We make what we want, we do not give space for predjudice.

Robert Caspar, 16 years, is an example of this respect. In a group that mainly likes "hip-hop", he is fan of boy bands American as Backstreet Boys and N'Sync. There is more: some months ago, he decided to buy a blue "Melissa" sandal (a sandal that in general woman uses). In the beginning, it was a joke reason wherever he passed. But, along time, he conquered the respect of his friends. He only gives up of his eccentric shoe for a special asking of his girlfriend. "She asks me to not go with a sandal to her parent´s home. They are older and could not understand. Except this, I do not leave of walking as I want, and my colleagues understand ".

Robert Caspar: training drawing is important too

With respect to all differences, the youngers of the School had found a form to say with their art and attitude things that all understand: they are creating good surprises on Rio de Janeiro corners.

Adapted from www.vivafavela.com.br - Carlos Collier

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