São Paulo – Where are the Lebanese immigrants and their descendants in Rio de Janeiro? It was with this objective in mind that Brazilian photographer Hélio Shiino developed photography exhibition "Líbano-carioca: essa gente mostrando o seu valor" (Carioca-Lebanon: these people showing their value), to be opened to the public on Wednesday (18th) at the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
The exhibition, which should include 75 photographs of varied sizes, is the result of a research on Lebanese immigrants and their descendants in the city in Rio de Janeiro, whose images reveal the festivities, faces, cuisine, dance, activities and integration with the people of Rio de Janeiro within a diversity that includes nations, cultures and religions.
Shiino, who had his research work coordinated by Brazilian historian and author Roberto Khatlab, who lives in Lebanon, started the first photography session in April last year. According to him, the first images were made during an Arab night at the Rio de Janeiro Youth League Community. Then the photographer followed the steps of the Lebanese and their descendants in several areas, like trade, clubs, folk groups, restaurants and religious leagues.
According to Shiino, the event is not about the history of Lebanese immigration, but about the current Lebanese community in the city of Rio de Janeiro. However, the photographer carried out extensive research about immigration and had much help from Khatlab, who is a researcher at the Latin America Department at the Centre for Research on Lebanese Immigration at Notre Dame University (NDU), in Beirut.
The exhibition should be divided in nine nuclei: Cuisine, Dance, Darbuka, Education, Religious Events, Beacons, Face, Society and Work. According to Shiino, the idea is to show the viewers the adaptation of Lebanese customs, culture and traditions to the Carioca style of life (a Carioca is a native of the city of Rio de Janeiro). It took two years of search for images that could show this adaptation. According to the photographer, the interest in the Lebanese community came after he read articles and material that he had stored away.
Service
"Líbano-carioca: essa gente mostrando o seu valor" (Carioca-Lebanon: these people showing their value)
Date: from June 18th to July 17th
Time: From 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Site: Espaço Núcleo MID, at UERJ
Address: Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, 2nd Floor, suite 2,002
Bloco C, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Admittance is for free
Tel.: (+55 21) 2587-7441
*Translated by Mark Ament
