Can São Paulo be considered the home or the tomb of Carnival? Or can it be both? For a long time, the city, so used to its chaotic daily life, usually saw itself transformed into a peaceful and desert landscape with the arrival of Carnival. Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Recife and Minas Gerais have always been some of the main destinations that Brazilians and foreigners seek for this party that enchants everyone.
However, this scenario is changing considerably. The growing popularity of the street block parties has reawakened the city and turned its carnival into one of the biggest street festivities in the world. Each year the city hall registers a notable increase of attendance. In the years that preceded the pandemic, the figures exceeded 10 million revelers following the carnival block parties throughout the streets of the city. And it is in the streets that the real carnival happens. It was born there, and remains radiant to this day. It's where everything happens and where everything blends, everything indeed.
In this chaotic and euphoric environment, ruled by Dionysus, the motto is to be free and pleasure is a must. In a frenetic rhythm, the energy is contagious, the sweat is shared and emotions are converted into gestures, touches, kisses and lots of movement. Sobriety and moderation are left out. Socioeconomic differences are covered in glitter, paint and confetti, camouflaging the anxieties of a political conjuncture in crisis and decadence.
At Carnival, dysrhythmia becomes such a striking break in rhythm. An intense oscillation of the heart rate that sometimes enjoys the climax of exaltation, and sometimes suffers in disturbance and disillusionment in the reveries of the melancholy streets of the concrete metropolis.
In a symbolic universe so rich in meanings, the profusion of sounds, colors and details creates a poetic contagious melody. The images invite you to approach and participate in this party, touch these bodies and listen to this melody.
A carnival that reveals traces and aspects intrinsic to the residents of São Paulo, whose soul is composed of an entire country. A soul that forgets the gray of concrete, asphalt and drizzle, shines radiantly. The soul that sings, enchants, dances, samba and fantasizes.
Faced with the ecstasy and incorporated by the rhythm of the interactions that take place between the carnivalized bodies and the body of the camera, result in these ecstatic images that vibrate intensely and make these encounters the essence of their existence.