Saype Brings Giant Hand Murals to Copacabana and Favela in Rio

Franco-Swiss artist Saype has created two large-scale land art murals in Rio de Janeiro as part of his ongoing series Beyond Walls, which began in 2019 at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The project, recognized as one of the most ambitious urban art initiatives in recent history, makes its Latin American debut in two contrasting locations: the favela of Estácio, symbolizing inequality, and Copacabana Beach, a global tourist destination. The murals depict giant hands intertwining to form a human chain, painted on sand and grass using eco-friendly materials like charcoal, chalk, and water. Saype's work combines social messaging with spectacle, amplified by Rio's contradictions of poverty and carnival exuberance. The series has previously visited capitals and iconic sites worldwide, boosting the artist's international fame.