Artists in Residence: Rio Occupation 2012

All good things must come to an end, hence the celebratory closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Something so poignant, that interrupted the crowd’s jubilation, was the handover of the Olympic flag. And soon the end of the Paralympic Games will signify the cease of London playing host to such a thrilling event.

While there might have been temporary feelings of despondency, things undoubtedly move on. And for the Olympics we look to Rio.

Rio Occupation London  was the month-long stay of 30 artists at the V&A, with them travelling from Brazil to the UK. Events occurred across the city, tied with the London 2012 Festival. From Somerset House to V22, there was always an occasion somewhere. 

The V&A museum acted as a base for three artists: Bruno Pineschi, a graphic artist and Head of Creation at Hardcuore, Eric Fuly , a visual artist and performer, and Robson Rozza, an actor and costume designer. 

Members of CreateVoice were given the pleasure of meeting the artists in residency. 

Rozza and Fuly were working in collaboration to create costumes for the grand finale of the Friday Late titled Going for Gold. "Larger than life" is what springs to mind recalling Rio's Carnival! Rozza and Fuly wanted to create characters costumes in the style of Carnival Puppets. CreateVoice members were invited into their 'world of pure imagination'. A compendium of images that coalesced on the wall acted as inspiration, a mood board. There were characters from Brazil, but also other more English fascinations, such as Mary Poppins and Pearly Kings. It was obvious what type of spirit Rozza and Fuly wanted to put into the costumes. Joining them as aids, we were told to, "create our own stories" on the items we were given. Imagination was given release; it was truly exciting working with them.

Bruno Pineschi worked in the other part of the studio. From a distance his project might not have looked as exuberant as Rozza and Fuly's task - however the plans were! Pineschi was looking to create nine thousand bananas. These bananas were to be made out of card nets, folded together to form the fruit's shape. As individuals, the bananas resemble a type of diamond cut rather than a banana. It’s almost to say as if they're the jewels on trees in Brazil. Amalgamated it's clear they are bundles of harlequin bananas. This is all for the Tropical Clusters Project. Taking the form of guerrilla art, the clusters are arranged around London and all over the V&A. For the inquisitive, this incongruous display should be a delight. 

If  we view the Rio Occupy as a taster of what to expect from Rio, Rio's Olympic prospects are enthralling, enough to galvanise one into the action of buying tickets for the games. I think I know where I'll be going in four years.

Article by Nelima Odhiambo

Photographs by Jazmine Rocks