Photo Essay: Occupy the Street and (Re) Make the City

Pâmela Perez

I got to know Loucura Suburbana, photographing my first street carnival in Rio de Janeiro. It was love at first sight. I was enchanted by the lightness of the master of ceremonies and by the beauty of the flag-bearer, their splendid dancing. 1 Opening up paths as she went, she owned the street and herself. Floating at times, as she whirled around with her partner, a large smile, full of life. All to the rhythm of the powerful drum section, assumedly, Insandecida [T.N. Insanidade + decida = Insanity + decided]. Followed in the parade, by the passista [samba dancer] totally beautiful, assured. Completely surrendered to samba and everyone to it.

I get goose bumps reliving the energy and see how much history is being built right now; one of joy, but also of resistance and potential. I am moved as I record this ballet, this sea of lively people who fantasize and build fantasies of a more colorful and human world. Psychiatric patients with people from all walks of life, everyone together commingling, face reality. A rich gathering of diversities and civility occupies the street and (re) makes the city. These are the libertarian encounters so typical of Rio’s street carnival.

From there was born my love for the bloco and my discovery of street photography. A bloco that came out of the asylum and dared to parade in the streets of Engenho de Dentro, conquering minds and hearts around the world. After taking the photos, I wanted to get know the stories behind the characters and from there I began to work on a video documentary (in process). To give voice to these people and movement to my images, telling the world the place of art and culture in the treatment of madness. Next chapter of our history.

 

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Pâmela Perez
Is a psychologist and works with municipal public health service in Rio de Janeiro. She is also a psychoanalyst, photographer and documentary filmmaker. She is currently studying for her graduate degree in image and photography at UCAM / R and in cinema at AIC – International Academy of Cinema. Among her exhibitions include: “Fora Valêncius: A saúde mental nas ruas, PUC / RJ 2016, University of Brasília / DF 2016 and the Collective Exhibition EAV – Grades – Parque Lage / RJ 2012.

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1 [N.E.] For a general introduction to the various traditions of Rio Carnival parades and the “blocos” or street partieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Carnival