French artist Guillaume Legros, also known as Saype (a junction of the words “say peace”), delivered a giant piece of art to the city of Brumadinho (MG) on July 24th in memory of the tragedy that took place in 2019 there when a dam burst. The painting was done with biodegradable paint made out of natural materials such as chalk and charcoal, and depicts two intertwined hands symbolizing unity.

The artwork was painted on the football fi eld of Córrego do Feijão, a place city residents view as a symbol of the trauma they experienced, because the helicopters that searched for the missing landed there. In this way, choosing the fi eld was an attempt to bring hope and new meaning to the area. The painting runs from one end of the fi eld to the other.

Beyond Walls Project

The artwork in Brumadinho is part of an initiative by Saype called Beyond Walls that calls for unity for a better world. Brumadinho was one of the 30 cities in the world chosen to host the project. Saype has also painted the clasped hands in places in Rio de Janeiro, such as Copacabana beach.

On the opening day, residents of the city of Minas Gerais gathered around the painting in a collective hug to honor the victims of the dam collapse. The day before, the artist also joined locals for a conversation titled “Memory will not die: art and narratives – The legacy of Brumadinho” along with speakers that included teachers, engineers, and writers.

The Brumadinho tragedy

On January 25th, 2019, mining company Vale’s B1 dam in Brumadinho collapsed. A wave of mud left hundreds dead. To this day, 270 people have been found, but four are still missing. The tragedy also caused major damage to the environment, such as the pollution of the Paraopeba River.

Questions

1) Where is Saype’s painting located in Brumadinho?

a) On a football field

b) In a helicopter

c) In a mining company

d) In a building

2) Do you think it would be important to remember cases like the one in Brumadinho? Why?

Sources: Ciclo Vivo, Folha de S. Paulo, and G1

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