Patricia Parinejad at Venice Architecture Biennale 2016

On show at the Time Space Existence exhibition in Venice, the work of German photographer Patricia Parinejad focuses on Brazil’s favelas

(Image credit: Patricia Parinejad)

By Ellie Stathaki

last updated 8 August 2022

in Features

Berlin-based photographer Patricia Parinejad has been exploring Brazilian favelas for years. Photographing informal housing and capturing through her lens one of the South American country’s largest problems, the German photographer became fascinated by the favelas' intricate maze and the life and buildings within them. Working on several projects in Brazil, she soon fell in love with Rio de Janeiro.

'My project explores the remarkable reality of these informal settlements and the interlacing structures of the spontaneous architecture of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas,' she explains. 'The tapestry of buildings in such unexpected patterns and the creative energy exuding from the wildly interwoven structures is fascinating.'

Favelas have existed in the country since the late 19th century. Brazil’s urbanisation in the second half of the 20th century made the problem worsen, paving the path for the current situation – such as Rio de Janeiro’s – where a staggering 22 per cent of the city’s population live in slums. Beyond Brazil, there are about a billion people across the globe living in similar, inadequate housing.

Parinejad spent months documenting houses, informal structures and surfaces, as well as portraits, creating a detailed and extensive collection of photographs depicting life, architecture and society in these labyrinthine Rio neighbourhoods. 'It is a dynamic city,' she says, 'full of joy.'

In keeping with 2016 Architecture Biennale director Alejandro Aravena’s theme on the role of architecture in civil society, housing and urbanisation problems, Parinejad’s captivating work is currently on show at the Time Space Existence exhibition in Venice.

'I am glad that the exhibit is on in Venice,' concludes the photographer. 'This way I can give these people a voice and a face and creating a tiny bit of awareness.'

The exhibition is generously supported by the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV).

Exhibit by Patricia Parinejad — Parinejad has been exploring Brazil for five years and fell in love with Rio’s dynamism, which gave birth to this project

Close up photograph of a child — The photographs at Palazzo Mora are compiled by the artist and assembled in a simple and utilitarian installation, fitting the artwork’s aesthetic

Favela in Brazil — The photographer became fascinated by the intricate maze of the favelas and the life and buildings within them

Pile of building materials — While some favelas existed before, it was Brazil’s 20th century wave of urbanisation that made the problem especially acute

A hammer — Now, a staggering 22 per cent of Rio de Janeiro’s population lives in slums

Concrete wall close up — Parinejad spent months documenting houses, informal structures and surfaces, as well as taking portraits in Rio’s neighborhoods

Old metal bar door — The project is in keeping with 2016 Architecture Biennale director Alejandro Aravena’s theme on the role of architecture in civil society, housing and urbanisation problems

INFORMATION

For more information on the Patricia Parinejad visit the artist’s website

Photography: Patricia Parinejad

TOPICS

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).