Cidada Dormitorio

Artist: Guga Ferraz
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Year: 2007
Researcher: Gabriela Ribeiro

In April 2007, amid the chaos of the city center of Rio de Janeiro, the artist Guga Ferraz made his installation site-oriented "Cidade Dormitório", consisting of eight beds stacked on the side of the gallery "Gentil Carioca" located on the Praça Tiradentes, the objects were stacked symmetrically (a bunk of eight floors height), referring to the idea of building or tower. The artist work through this, offered an urban facility to anyone who wants to spend some time - or do any other type of occupation - lounging on one of the "rooms" of this iron frame.

The aesthetics of the work is currently one of mimesis of popular buildings for people who can afford. However it refers to socioeconomic and political problems that go beyond the appearance of the work, as the housing deficit that prevails in the country in general and in Rio de Janeiro in particular. Showing that the work is a protest against the artist present state of poverty in the city center. This artwork demonstrates a commitment and clash with reality when dealing with a very delicate situation, the homeless, which is often ignored by society that has better living conditions and goverment agencies depending on their posture management, do not give them proper care and structure. In this site-oriented the artist Works with the acidity even in subtle tone while offering a welcoming structure for those who needed the work, applying for the residence time of the work or even an everyday utilitarian function.

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At the inauguration was a kind of playground for a broader audience, but from the second day and in the following months, the work was being occupied by the homeless, beggars, drunks, bystanders in general, people who somehow were requiring too this space and began to turn a kind of route. But,any homeless who wanted to get hold of one of the "rooms" can do it for four months, which was the period in which the work remain in place. Because that was the intent of the work: the use of occupation.

All copyright belongs to Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University.

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