Painting an entire favela in Rio de Janeiro

The Dutch artists Haas&Hahn are planning to paint an entire favela in Rio de Janeiro. They are raising money for their project through Kickstarter. The Favela Painting project started in 2005 when Haas&Hahn (Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn) had the idea of creating public artworks in favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Not just to beautify, but also to create a dialogue with their surroundings.

After several successful projects, the image of a square painted in a design of radiating colors yielded worldwide fame and transformed Rio into 'one of the world’s 10 most colorful places', according to CNN. Haas&Hahn were invited to show their work at the New York based gallery Storefront for Art & Architecture, followed by an invitation from the Philadelphia Mural Arts program to paint several complete blocks in a dilapidated area in North Philly.

Over the years the Favela Painting Project has grown into a professional organization, based in the Netherlands. It’s focus is: mobilizing people to transform their own communities into social art works of monumental size, to beautify and inspire, combat prejudice and attract positive attention, while offering opportunity and economic stimulus.

To back Haas&Hahn's project, visit Kickstarter

Read more about Favela Painting

Update 29/10/2013: The project Painting an entire favela in Rio de Janeiro has been successfully funded.