Over here you can see three impages from Rio , starting with Ipanema beach - Ipanema ( litteraly : dirty water according to an old Indian legend) is a famous neighbourhood and beach in RIO, it is also one the richest neighbourhoods. Ipanema is full of trendy people who bring spirit to the cariocas ( inhabitants of RIO) Ipanema became famous in the media because of the song GIRL FROM IPANEMA by Gilberto & Getz. Even though the song was published in the sixties, it still is very popular today . ( www.youtube.com:watch%3Fv=mpmGKbXxaOk.webloc) Ipanema now is one of the safest and also most expensive areas to live in the city.
Next to the image of Ipanema beach is a picture of the total opposite side of Rio, the Favela's ( or social quarters) The favela's are like the Bronx in New York . People in the Favelas live with little or no income , often without windows or doors in their houses. The area is not accesible for tourists, at least not without police surveilance. The people in the favela's are a bit trapped in the poverty circle , once you are born there , it is impossible to grow up without crime and it is extraordinary hard to build a good life for yourself. Strikking in Rio is that this area is just a Fifteen min drive from the rich neighbourhoods. People in Rio tend to close their eyes and pretend the Favela's are not there ...but the presence of the favelas does add to the insafe feeling of the people in Rio and it gives the city bad publicity in the press.
The third image is a sort of manifest ( no , not a communist one ) - it is a manifest for artists . Freely translated , the manifest says that being an artist means above all being a human being - an independent creature who doesn't rely on traditional labels such as career choice, offices or one type of art. It is an opportunity to express yourself without selfimposed limitations , to reach your potential , to feel completely alive - and it also means you don't care about the world created by society - you create your own world !
This manifest is written by group Ta na Rua.... a famous creative group in Rio and it represents a live vision we all should strive for !
