30 October 2010

Waste Land ~ The Beautiful Catadores of Brazil

Thanks to Stephen Holden in the NYTimes for spotting Waste Land in his review, From a Universe of Trash, Recycling Art and Hope about "pickers of recyclable materials" in Rio...
"Their lives are changed forever when they are chosen to collaborate with the artist Vik Muniz, a São Paulo native who is now based in Brooklyn and is well known for his re-creations of famous artworks using unusual materials."
See here the trailer...
"Filmed over nearly three years, Waste Land follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of "catadores" -- or self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz's initial objective was to "paint" the catadores with garbage. However, his collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both dignity and despair as the catadores begin to re-imagine their lives. Walker has great access to the entire process and, in the end, offers stirring evidence of the transformative power of art and the alchemy of the human spirit."
Be sure also to see Garbage Dreams about Cairo's Zaballeen recyclers.

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