Vanessa Shimada

Liberdade para quem? [Freedom for whom?] seeks to uncover the complexity of the Brazilian identity through histories that have been hidden or erased. The Liberdade neighborhood in São Paulo, Brazil is commonly known as the ‘Japanese neighborhood’. The neighborhood is embellished with characteristic Japanese motifs- from lanterns, portals, to buildings’ facades; and it is saturated with Asian business and events. But behind its facade, the neighborhood has layers of stories and histories of excluded populations. It was once the first Afro-Brazilian neighborhood of São Paulo until these populations got forcibly displaced.

The single narrative (of the Japanese community) is used to overshadow and conceal other narratives. Through facilitating a network for conversations and a planning process for land reparations, I want to give power and ownership back to people whose narratives have been erased and provide a space where the different narratives can coexist.