Criola's 2018 Mural Faces Legal Threat in Belo Horizonte Over Resident Objection
A 1365 m² mural by artist Criola titled 'Híbrida Astral – Guardiã Brasileira' faces potential removal due to a legal dispute in Belo Horizonte. Created in 2018 during the Circuito Urbano de Arte de Belo Horizonte (CURA) festival, the work adorns the blind facade of the Edifício Chiquito Lopes on Rua São Paulo. A single resident opposes the mural and has filed a lawsuit demanding its erasure, despite 55 of 56 condominium residents voting in favor of its maintenance during a 2018 assembly. The festival organizers and Criola argue the work is public art belonging to the city, with the case sparking public debate and online petitions. The resident claims the mural is a 'decoration of dubious taste' and cites condominium law requiring unanimous consent for facade changes. Criola and CURA co-founder Juliana Flores counter that the work's erasure carries symbolic weight, linking it to the erasure of Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous culture, with Flores noting racist online commentary targeting the mural's themes. The legal arguments hinge on the Civil Code of 2002 and majority vote provisions versus the 1964 condominium law.
Key facts
- Criola's mural 'Híbrida Astral – Guardiã Brasileira' was painted in 2018.
- The 1365 m² work is on the Edifício Chiquito Lopes in Belo Horizonte's center.
- A single resident filed a lawsuit demanding the mural's removal.
- 55 of 56 condominium residents voted to keep the mural in 2018.
- The Circuito Urbano de Arte de Belo Horizonte (CURA) organized the project.
- Artist Criola and CURA oppose the erasure, calling it public art.
- The resident cites Law No. 4591/1964, arguing for unanimous consent.
- Criola states the mural's removal symbolizes cultural erasure of Afro-Indigenous roots.
Entities
Artists
- Criola
Institutions
- Circuito Urbano de Arte de Belo Horizonte (CURA)
Locations
- Belo Horizonte
- Brazil
- Rua São Paulo
- Edifício Chiquito Lopes
- Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos