Artist-designed flags challenge national symbols in global project addressing racism and politics

Bruno Baptistelli has designed a reinterpreted Brazilian flag as part of the Four Flags initiative, overseen by curators Julia Mullié and Nick Terra. This project originated in Amsterdam and has since reached cities such as São Paulo, Lisbon, Bogotá, Chicago, and Dusseldorf. In his design, Baptistelli substitutes black for green, red for yellow, and green for blue, highlighting the violence faced by Black Brazilians. André Parente has also altered the flag, incorporating statements from President Jair Bolsonaro. The initiative showcases a variety of artists, including Evelyn Taocheng Wang and Laure Prouvost. The national flag has become linked to far-right Bolsonaro supporters, and recent police shootings, including that of 14-year-old João Pedro Matos Pinto, reveal persistent state violence against Black Brazilians amid a broader recognition of racism.