São Paulo – An exchange of positive messages between people from two countries whose societies are, in different ways and for different reasons, going through troubled times. That is the inspiration behind the photo exhibition Love letter from Brazil to Iraq, which will be showing in São Paulo from May 12th to June 12th.
The exhibit features 72 snapshots by 21 Brazilian and 15 Iraqi photographers. “The idea was to send out a message of peace and love, a positive message between two countries,” says Renato Negrão, a professor of Photography at art and design school Panamericana Escola de Arte e Design, and the curator of the Brazilian part of the show. The Iraqis’ photos were curated by Abo Al Hassan, president of the Iraq Photograph Center and of NGO Larsa for Human Rights.
For this project, photographers were instructed to share images that carried positive messages to the people in the other nation. “The photos of Brazil had to be taken in a Brazilian setting, and photos of Iraq had to be taken in Iraq or some other Arab country,” Negrão explains.
According to the curator, the exhibition includes several colorful images, landscapes, and pictures of children. “The intention is to make the public feel good about something. Hope is still possible despite the war and the pain,” he believes.
The project is a brainchild of Negrão’s. In 2012, he had a smaller-scale run of the show in Baghdad, with work by ten Brazilian photographers. Last year, the professor was contacted by Hassan, who invited him to expand his efforts.
Prior to São Paulo, the exhibit had a leg in Amman, Jordan. There are plans to take it to Brasília and Rio de Janeiro as well. According to Negrão, a producer from the Netherlands is also interested in bringing it to his country.
Love Letter from Brazil to Iraq
May 12th to June 12th. Opening on May 12th, 7:30pm
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 8 pm; Saturdays, 9 am to 12 pm. Closed on Sundays and holidays.
Where: Panamericana Escola de Arte e Design
Angélica Avenue, 1900 – Higienópolis – São Paulo – SP
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
