Brazilian Collector Bernardo Paz's Company Accused of Child Labor and Land Displacement

Bernardo Paz, the Brazilian collector who founded Inhotim sculpture park, faces allegations that his charcoal production company Replasa employed underage workers. An investigation by Bloomberg Businessweek journalist Alex Cuadros documented multiple testimonies from individuals claiming they worked for Replasa or its subcontractors before reaching 16 years old. The company denies these child labor accusations. Replasa is also accused of appropriating land in northern Minas Gerais previously used by local communities for subsistence farming, converting it to Eucalyptus plantations for charcoal production. These plantations reportedly drained local rivers, forcing remaining residents to abandon the area after the company's arrival. Paz is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for tax avoidance. Inhotim, his 3,000-acre sculpture park in Minas Gerais, features pavilions displaying works from his collection including large-scale installations by artists Olafur Eliasson, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Paul McCarthy, and Chris Burden.