Felipe Russo: São Paulo's Urban Poet of Absence
Felipe Russo, a biologist from São Paulo who transitioned into photography, meticulously showcases his city in the book 'Centro,' which Martin Parr hailed as one of the finest photobooks of 2014. This collection illustrates a serene São Paulo bathed in gentle light, revealing remnants such as a foam mattress and footprints. In his 2016 exhibition 'Garagem Automática,' Russo explored 34 vertical parking facilities from the 1960s and 1970s, highlighting details like tire tracks. His current work, 'Beige,' focuses on urban sanitization, portraying vacant areas associated with the overlooked impoverished. Additionally, 'Tipuana Tipu' features urban trees as central figures, employing synecdoche to reflect the city's spirit. The interview was conducted by Federica Andreoni.
Key facts
- Felipe Russo was born in São Paulo in 1979 and trained as a biologist.
- His series 'Centro' was compiled into a book and praised by Martin Parr as one of the best photobooks of 2014.
- Russo's studio is on the 32nd floor of Mirante do Vale, São Paulo's tallest skyscraper.
- 'Centro' depicts São Paulo's central area with no people, only traces like footprints and cardboard.
- Guilherme Wisnik wrote the text for 'Centro,' noting the delicate appearance of traces despite social violence.
- 'Garagem Automática' documents 34 automated parking buildings from the 1960s-70s, exhibited in 2016 and soon published.
- The 'Beige' project uses the municipal paint color that covers graffiti to explore sanitization policies.
- 'Tipuana Tipu' focuses on the common urban tree species, portraying each tree as an individual.
Entities
Artists
- Felipe Russo
- Martin Parr
- Guilherme Wisnik
- Federica Andreoni
Institutions
- Museu da Cidade de São Paulo Casa da Imagem
- Artribune
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Mirante do Vale