Social intelligence

is it brazil? or japan? cultural connections in sao paulo

June 18, 2008  11:17 am

A foreigner could be forgiven for thinking that Brazil is turning Japanese. The country is home to the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan—upward of 1.5 million people, most of them concentrated in São Paulo. The city’s fashion week, currently under way, has dedicated its Summer ‘09 edition to celebrating the centenary of the first Japanese immigrants’ arrival in Brazil, staging a series of events that explore the connection between the two countries. Highlights include an installation of photographs by André Passos, with Brazilian stylists dressing people up in the streets of Tokyo, and an exhibition of traditional kimonos and contemporary kimono-inspired pieces. The installation that makes the most immediate impression is the transformation of the Bienal exhibition space into a manga-worthy set piece chock-full of futuristic neon signage and cartoonish car sculptures. Given the rapid pace of change in Brazil, the hectic scenery and car imagery resonate with the country’s current climate. Go, Speed Racer, Go!

tags:

email

digg

reddit

print

stumbleupon

facebook

myspace

del.icio.us

rss

‹ saved by the bell: the return of alternative denim silhouettes | main | warning: think twice before attempting this hairdo ›