Gaudi in the Favela

I was up late doing a little mosaicking in front of the TV and I switched back over to the ABC and was lucky enough to come across this documentary.

From the Age:

Estevao is an illiterate caretaker who lives in a Sao Paulo slum (favela). He has never heard of Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudi.

But his house in the favela is in true Gaudi style – intuitive, organic, fanciful, amazing. No wider than a garage, it snakes up, down and around and boasts a rooftop garden like no other, all of it painstakingly built over 16 years from found objects, discarded materials and a few frugal purchases on land that he doesn’t strictly own.

Gaudi scholars are so impressed by the originality but similarity of Estevao’s art and architecture, they invite him to Barcelona to see the work of the Catalan architect and record his sensitive and observant reactions.

It’s an engaging premise that reveals curious contrasts between two artists and their cities.

I really enjoyed this especially the Barcelona parts in the Parc Guell. I’ve looked at many photos of this park so I kept recognising different mosaics.
“Gaudí en la favela” [2002]