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favela

Thank you, rita mandarino,

for the invitation to visit

tavARES bastos community with you!

 

i would have never been there

to enjoy this magnificent view

if it wasn't you.

for andreas (buschinho) and rainer (erich), who would probably love to visit places like this.

 

for all those who still believe that there's hope for our cities.

favela tavARES bastos

rio de janeiro | brazil

 

august 13th 2009
COMMENTS
RosaneMar said at 8:49 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
Nossa realidade brasileira...a beleza natural contrastando com a falta de estrutura social. Parabéns pelo tabblo.
NavyMom said at 8:54 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
stark reality with the black and white...and oh what a view in the last photos
Moabjeeper said at 9:30 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
Awesome photos.
Liliana said at 9:31 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
Sad, sad, sad mirror for us, all people who live in countries with "favelas"... But, as you say, there is hope... From grey o color...
¿Cómo armaste la palabra "favela"? Esfascinante: creada como las favelas mismas: co pedazos diferentes... Tal vez iría "fabela" para mostrar que, a pesar de encajar las piezas, no siempre son las adecuadas. Demasiado doloroso como para poder mirar sólo el arte...
Liliana said at 9:32 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
¡¡¡¡¡Snif...!!!!! MIentras escribías cambiaste el título, algo que me había encantado... Respeto la decisión pero me gustaba más antes...
Alcamac57 said at 9:33 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
Serei franco. Não vejo virtude na favela como tantos por aí teimam em falar. Quem defende a favela, fala da boca para fora, para passar por "politicamente correto" utilizando frases feitas de conteúdo raso. A favela agride o meio ambiente, degrada a cidade, serve de refúgio para marginais, onera os serviços públicos e seus moradores são presa fácil para políticos inescrupulosos, organizações criminosas e grupos que querem manter um poder paralelo ao do estado. Ao ver estas imagens uma grande tristeza me invade e , confesso, estou quase sem esperanças de que esta situação vá mudar.
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:45 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
ROSANE & ALBERTO: Pra mim, favela (ou "comunidade", que é o nome politicamente correto) vai ser sempre sinônimo de sub-habitação (ainda não me adaptei à nova ortografia), subdesevolvimento, pobreza, injustiça. Ok, é preciso entrar lá para ver que as pessoas ainda conservam sua dignidade, riem, se divertem, têm amigos, fazem festas, e que, "mesmo com um nó no peito / com a cara dura", vão levando. O que dói é constatar que é preciso muito pouco para mudar a vida delas. Se houvesse mesmo vontade política, o cenário poderia ser outro. Nesta favela, pelo menos, não há tráfico nem violência. O BOPE fica no alto do morro, e vive-se em paz ali (talvez com muito mais segurança do que em Ipanema ou na Barra). Eu tenho esperanças, sim, de que a situação vá mudar. Só que talvez não seja nesta encarnação...


LILIANA: A ideia era mesmo escrever a palavra "favela" com pedaços de outras palavras, mas não encontrei as letras certas, achei que ficou forçado - daí optei por uma tipologia só. O truque? São imagens de letras, inseridas como se fossem fotos. Concordo com vc, a favela é o nosso espelho.


SHIRL: The best views of Rio are from the top of the hills (where the favelas are located).
Liliana said at 9:51 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
No me parecía forzado, me gustaba la (des)unidad....
¿Qué es el Bope...?
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:18 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
"BOPE" é o Batalhão de Operações Especiais, a tropa de elite da polícia do Rio. Possivelmente eu retomarei a ideia do título favelesco num dos próximos tabblos sobre o assunto (tenho ainda muitas outras fotos para postar).
Liliana said at 10:25 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
(Des) unidad es un invento mío, un neologismo.
Me quedé pensando en esas vistas de Río desde la favela...¿Cómo funcionarán en el imaginario? ¿Será el Pao de Açucar tan alejado como para un extraterrestre? Creo que lo debe de sentir más posible (accesible)un Tabbloer que un favelado. ¿Puede ser o es una hipótesis totalmente errada? Como algo inalcanzable... Al menos, pueden ver algo hermoso no sólo destrucción, cables que son como algunas de sus vidas, cosas rotas ...
Rita.Mandarino said at 10:51 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
As fotos ficaram incríveis. O tabblo ficou bárbaro. Gosto mais das coloridas mas sua visão preto e branco tb me agrada.
Edu, foi um prazer enorme te levar pra conhecer esse pedaço da cidade. Vc parecia pinto no lixo e o que me deixou mais feliz foi vc perceber que as pessoas podem ser feliz, amar, criar filhos, viver uma vida tranquila que alguns de nós, as vezes, não temos aqui no "asfalto".
Por tudo que já vi nesse meu amado Rio de Janeiro, foi nas comunidades que eu vi a maior demonstração de solidariedade entre as pessoas, inclusive naquelas onde tem-se comandos instalados. Acho pré-conceito dizer que é somente esconderijo de marginais e que destroem o meio ambiente sem o olhar para os seus habitantes.Concordo que são sub-habitações que muitos moram ali por absoluta falta de opção mas existem muitos outros que simplesmente gostam e tem orgulho. Diferente de vc, não concordo com a remoção, o que não exclui a implementação de políticas publicas de habitação social, que pode ser feita dentro das próprias comunidades.Nossos morros tem problemas sim e muitos mas tenho certeza que tem solução. a proósito o nome dessa comunidade é Tavares Bastos.
Hubbley said at 11:04 p.m. on Aug 13, 2009:
Edu, nunca fui nem passei por uma favela do Rio. Eu pra falar a verdade tenho medo. Mas o meu medo nao e do povo que vive la e sim dos que pensao que sao os donos de la. Muito boas as fotos e a vista que todos conhecem do Rio ficou mais real atraves das fotos. Abraco. HU
WEIMAR said at 1:09 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
ooch ich verstehe nichts von den Kommentaren ;-)((
Edu why do you use B/W and colour Photos together. I mean that B/W would great for all also with this view.
What for a misery for all this people, they have to live there!
Noe said at 2:25 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Wow... que lugar tan especial, me gustó mucho el titulo y la serie en blanco y negro. Excelente tabblo Eduardo, saludos!
Rod38 said at 3:13 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Well expressed this tabblo.it Start a feeling of frustrations and ends with the bright side of life. Wonderful and Thank you Ed.
Wildthing said at 4:46 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Nice set, Eduardo. Looking past the veneer of beauty in almost everything uncovers less savoury, uglier sights.
Jesusgoz said at 6:28 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Otra acertada muestra de realidad.
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:52 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
RITA: A troca do nome da comunidade foi um ato falho, já corrigido (obrigado). Acho que Freud explica (Bope -> caveirão -> caveira -> Taveira...). Remoção ou não remoção, eis a questão. Se estão demolindo prédios no Recreio e no Joá porque estáo fora do gabarito, em área não edificante ou em invasões, por que o tratamento às favelas deveria ser diferente? Acho que, antes de tudo, é uma questão de postura, de respeito à legislação. Mas sei que a coisa é polêmica (eu não colocaria você e o Alberto, ambos arquitetos, ambos da Prefeitura, na mesma mesa redonda - ou o pau comia). Mais uma vez, obrigado pela oportunidade, e pelos pontos de vista, que, aos poucos, vou incorporando aos meus.


LILIANA: Penso justamente o contrário - que o Pão de Açúcar, por ser tão presente na vida dessas pessoas, deve ser algo como é o obelisco para quem trabalha na 9 de Julho.


GAÚ: Também sempre tive medo de favela, mas estou começando a rever meus conceitos...


HEIDI: Sorry for so many comments in Portuguese - but it would be impossible for us to express ourselves in another language when the subject is so complex. I was going to use only b/w photos, but then I decided to keep the explosion of colors shown on the last images. I should try a variation, anyway.


NOE & JESUS: Gracias!


MIKE: Remember an old series I posted some time ago, called "purgatory of beauty and chaos"? I could have used the same title again, don't you think so?
Tishfish said at 7:11 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Sadly, this happens in every country of the world. The hidden messes nobody wants to admit. Excellent shots Edu ! ! !
Leftofcenter said at 8:19 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
but they have satellite dishes... love the way you introduce us to the favellas in B&W then back to the blue skies and sea- still it doesn't look "brighter" for this community.
Lageho said at 8:31 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Wonderful photos from a wonderful place. Thanks.
Charlespop said at 8:51 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Fantastic design. Great capture of a world of contrasts, of a world of despair, hope, ugliness, beauty and everything in between .
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:57 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
DOREEN: I know this happens in most countries, but it shouldn't happen here, in such scale.


ANNELIES: Yes, they have satellite dishes, and probably also microwave ovens, DVDs and digital cams. They drink coke, eat bigmacs and listen to britneys, rhiannas and chrisbrowns. Paradoxes are the soul of this country...


LARS: It is a wonderful place, indeed. But also a nightmare.
NeusinhaGedoz said at 9:34 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Eduardo, parabéns pelo TOD. Merecido!!!! Lindo, Lindo, lindo!!!
Chaitiamma said at 10:15 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Another side of Rio. Thanks for sharing.
Mrsfabulous said at 10:47 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Interesting to see a different side of Rio. Thank you.
Lange said at 10:54 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Eduardo, suas fotos estão perfeitas é como se eu estivesse lá, reais muito bom mesmo. bjs
Robya said at 11:43 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Eduardo, Nice photos of this city, Such poverty in this part of the city. Hopefully they have some good community programs for people to help them. Obrigada. Robbi
Debdog said at 11:46 a.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
oh how dark and sad and hopeless feeling, then you bring us into the light, but what a stark contrast between have/havenots...the view is beautiful, but i see the elegant condos that look down on this area of your city. Beauty and ugliness, want and need, and the cycle that is unable to be broken....poverty ...
such beautiful views,i love the last with red bins ?garbage looking onto the brighter side of city . well done. :) congrats on TOD
Qt_aubs57 said at 12:33 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
at first i thought i was looking at some parts of Manila, thanks for sharing...its always sad to see the fate of other people, our family wasn't rich when i was growing up...but we were able to rise above it...and i get to go places now *wink* :)

P.S. We're still not rich...but our lives are more comfortable hehehe...
Grandbrother said at 12:50 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
I think this is probably one of the best designed tabblos I've seen! Love the photo arrangement and even the title images, but what works so great for me is the overall graphic design of the page as a contrast to the gritty, raw images themselves. Makes for a very effective communication of subject matter. Nicely done, and congratulations on Tabblo of the Day!
Buschinho said at 1:46 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
I`m still at work, I will come back later ... for sure !!!
Obrigado und Vielen Dank, Congrats and keep on rocking in the free world !!!
Andreas
Pkeener said at 2:14 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
love the transition from B&W to color. somehow it seems much more serious in B&W the title treatment ti so COOL! #10 and #12 really tell a story.

Thius is one of your best tabblos in design. Evocative and artistic. just like you!
Moorlerche said at 4:31 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
These cobwebs of electricity cables look dangerous, pressing down on the little boy as are the walls of the buildings. Then comes a little improvement of new building sites (though the cables are hanging life dangerously in the air), to be followed by these empty orange trash bins with the glorious site of the suggar top in the distance.

From your own experience: Do you think the new building will be in a better condition than those in black and white? Has the situation in the Favelas improved compared to a couple years ago? Are the winds changing?
Loes said at 4:49 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Incredibly beautiful B&W pictures and colourful views! Congrats on TOD!!
Buschinho said at 5:16 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Eduardo, wie geht`s ?! how does it come you know me that well ... ;-)
First of all, OBRIGADO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I`m getting more and more impatient to come back to Brasil and Rio!!!
I`m really thankful that you share this amazing and unique photos, impressions and views with us!!!
when I was in Rio 2005 with my sister, we took a public bus from Botafogo or was it Flamengo to the Corcovado station and we saw many favelas, climbing up the hills, maybe we saw even this one!
and as a traveller i got interested and googled a bit and found this unique place:
http://jazzrio.info/de/the-maze.html !!! have you been there?!
must be cool to have drink there, feel the music, get to know the people there and in the favela, to learn about their life and hopes, playing soccer with the kids and stay in the Maze Inn bed&breakfast, far away from the tourist routes.
actually my first visit to Rio was the average, touristic one. next time I hope to see the places that you show us in so many wonderful tabblos. Again and again ... Danke Schön !!! See you !!! Andreas
Rita.Mandarino said at 6:05 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Ih meu amigo, seu tabblo bombou. Assunto polêmico sempre é muito bom e eu não fujo da briga não rsrs. Parabens pelo TOD. Merecidíssimo. olha só onde Andreas quer ir...não te disse que lá era legal? Agora vc pode dar até referências rsrs. Adorei te levar lá, temos muitas coisas ainda pra ver.
Liliana said at 6:06 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
I think in "favelas" we meet all kind of people, as in other place (city, town...): honest/not honest, who works and who don´t (because of different reasons). So, I think we have not to stigmatize not idealize. Of course (in my opinion) Govrrment has a lot to work. I am not speaking about "favelas" in Brazil but in my country, Argentina,too, where the situation is quite similar... Maybe not so picturseque or "cool" (sorry, I can´t connect the word "cool" with this situation...). I know what I am speaking about, I have been in "favelas". BTW, there are tours in the "favelas" (here and in Brazil), what I consider horrible, for me people who take part in these tours have the same actitud than people who visit a zoo, it is very invasive. Sorry, it is not very "politically correct" what I am writting, but it is what I (and many people who I have speoken with) feel...
Candlepower said at 6:52 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
A View with a story and told so well. Congrations for TOD!!
EMA said at 7:00 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
É extraordinario como os seus tabblos sempre causam tanta polémica, o que, aliás, eu entendo porque eles não são simples exposição de fotos, Têm sempre muito mais significado... As favelas do Rio ou de outra cidade qualquer do mundo são sempre lugares de habitação degradada e isso é que é triste. As pessoas deviam ter todas direito a uma habitação digna e confortável. É só o que quero acrescentar a tudo o que li. Quanto às fotos, claro que estão excelentes!
Gams said at 7:38 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
BEAUTIFUL EDUARDO! VERY DRAMATIC AND WELL PRESENTED AS EVERYONE AGREED!
Buschinho said at 8:18 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Hi Liliana, to avoid any misunderstanding: I mentioned "cool" regarding the Maze Inn, which is a bed & breakfast in the favela but also a place for music and art. And I find it great to stay there instead of a anonymous hotel for the massmarket! the encounters with the people, the culture, the nature and to extend my horizon is the main reason for me to travel. btw, I was also several times in " shanty towns ", in Cape Town and in Tondo / Smokey Mountain / Manila and I would NEVER join a tourist tour there. My wife used to work in a NGO and now we are both volunteers and supporters of a NGO called ERDA Foundation and Albert Schweitzer Association in the Philippines. Tudo bem, Andreas
Liliana said at 8:33 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Alles gut, Andreas, really it was not a comment to you but what happens is that I work with foreigners, here, and sometimes they have the kind of view that I mentined, very shocking to me (and other foregners, too!!!). I have to confess, yes, that the "cool" shocked me!! I love travelling, too, and we try to go to places wihout many people, without tourists, like you, and I agree with you that trips are ways to learn, to be more opened mind person. I like to know about you and your wife, I can imagine (I also have seen your beautiful and personal photos) and I see you are an intelligent person. So, it´s all O.K., really. Maybe I have not been very polite, but I hope you can understand me... "Tudo bem"!!!
RosaneMar said at 9:03 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Parabéns pelo TOD!!!
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:14 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
Mein teuer ANDREAS: You must be kidding... pics # 9 & 10 where taken from... The Maze! I took pic #10 while Rita was drinking a coffee with Bob, the former BBC correspondent who fell in love with this favela, moved to it and built The Maze. There are jazz and salsa sessions up there once a month, and I will probably be there next time. The guy whose silhouette can be seen on the right in that pic is our body guard, but this favela is totally safe (I dare to say it`s safer than most places in Rio). I wouldn't recommend you to stay there, anyway (there are better bed & breakfast inns in Rio, also with as astonishing view and less dust...). A tabblo about The Maze is coming soon.


NEUSINHA, DAVID, MYLES, LOES, PAT,ROBBI, SOLANGE & GAMS: Thank you a lot for your comments,guys! I am glad you enjoyed these "views from the top"" (for maybe from the bottom, depending on the point of view...).


DEBBIE: Rio is the city of stark contrats. It's the most beautiful, charming city in this country, and also one of the most violent, unfair, unsafe ones. Rio is not only the heart of Brazil, it`s also its face. I hope it can be saved, rebuilt, healed.


AUBREY: Rio & Manila are very similar, I could say they are twin cities, sharing the same problems and waiting for the same solutions. Is Pasig River dead? So are our rivers. Is the traffic a mess? So ir ours. Can you see poverty everywhere? So can I. I am not rich either, but I am a millionaire compared to most people I see when I visit places like this.
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:36 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
SEAN: Thank you a lot. I am sure one of the best things of using Tabblo to post our photos is the possibility of creating new designs. We can play with the images, not just display them. That`s part of the fun, uh?


PAM: "Evocative" is a very beautiful word... I meant to make this simply effective, but I am glad to notice it came up sort of artistical, too.


ANKE: These cables are really dangerous, and I'm surprised most of these places haven't been burnt yet. I think the situation was worse some years ago. Now some favelas are drugs-free (the drug dealers who controlled them have been expelled by the police, or are in jail). So people can live without the fear of facing a civil war once a week (as it is still usual in most favelas). The city government has also paved the tiny streets, almost all "houses" have electricity, water etc. The wind is changing (my friend Rita Mandarino is a proof of the changes: she works providing wellfare to elder people who live in such communities).


RITA: Tudo isso graças a você! Acho que nas horas vagas vou contratar o "Robinho" como motorista e virar guia de turismo pelos lugares não turísticos do Rio...


LILIANA: I felt a little bit "invasive", too, but visiting a favela is like visiting any other neighborhood. And I think it was "cool" up there, with that fantastic view, warm people (an old lady talked to us about her experience being on a movie, some guys made jokes about me taking photos, etc).


EDITE: Você usou uma palavra-chave: "degradação". É degradante viver daquela maneira, muitas vezes sem um endereço, sem privacidade, sem segurança. Gostaria que sempre as minhas fotos provocassem algum tipo de reflexáo - o que desta vez parece ter acontecido.


ROSANE: Obrigado!
Demberg said at 10:22 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
boas fotos Eduardo ... apesar de nao curtir muito essa "valorizaçao" da favela nos dias de hoje ... a verdade é que ADOREI como vc colocou o título !!
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:39 p.m. on Aug 14, 2009:
MÁRCIO: Não sei se há mesmo uma "valorização" da favela. Talvez não haja mais a sua "demonização". Eu não conhecia nenhuma até uma semana atrás, agora já fui a duas, e confesso que mudei um pouco o meu ponto de vista. Comi por lá uma feijoada deliciosa, conheci gente amistosa e divertida, vi o Rio de ângulos espetaculares. Se não fosse pelo tráfico...
Liliana said at 11:11 a.m. on Aug 15, 2009:
Eduardo: for you it is like visiting other neighborhood because it is your city but not all people go to a favela with the same feeling or intention. The best is that each one can express his/her opinion, I can agree with the others or not but I respect their ideas and I don´t want to say that mine is better. Each one have his/her own experiences, that´s all...
Rita.Mandarino said at 9:08 p.m. on Aug 15, 2009:
Edu, concordo que não há valorizção da favela o que há é uma preocupação por parte dos gestores públicos como bem estar das pessoas, de qualquer cidadão, morando ele numa favela ou num bairro.
Ebucar said at 8:24 p.m. on Aug 16, 2009:
Eu aguardava por este tabblo... (e aguardo outros que certamente virão) faz tempo. Prefiro as fotos em preto e branco. Meu favorito.
Snooway said at 7:48 p.m. on Aug 17, 2009:
great contrast
Shenresi said at 2:44 p.m. on Aug 18, 2009:
wonderful Eduardo,!!! You really catched the impressions and the feelings people have by the look the favelas, with the first b/w shots and the good feelings with the coloured looks out of there. Very impressive tabblo!!!
21-gramm said at 3:17 p.m. on Aug 18, 2009:
anothe side the RIO... fantastic, Edu!
Abking said at 12:20 a.m. on Aug 19, 2009:
It's like all those wires and cables are pumping opiates around the clock.
Ira said at 9:22 p.m. on Aug 27, 2009:
Only realism. Any romanticism and ornaments
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