Hiroshima commemoration in Rio de Janeiro with involvement of Eduardo Kobra, a world famous Brazilian artist

August 6, 2016 [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]

Report provided by Pol Dhuyvetter,
Coordinator of Mayors for Peace in Latin America
and Executive Advisor of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation

On August 6, a 30-square meter colorful Peace Mural was inaugurated in the favela of Babilônia in the presence of Junko Watanabe, a hibakusha of Hiroshima, and Oliver Torres, the Consul of Colombia. Eduardo Kobra, a world famous Brazilian artist who creates enormous and colorful murals about peace around the globe, participated in this project and was represented at the inauguration ceremony by two artists of the team, Kleber Pagu and Hernan Salazar.

The peace mural is an answer to increasing gun violence in favelas in Rio in 2016. During March alone this year, 7 people were killed in the small favela of Babilônia which has an estimated 4,000 inhabitants. The mural is a pilot project for the 1,200 favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The idea of this mural project was conceived by Mayors for Peace Executive Advisor Pol DHuyvetter and Bibiana Angel Gonzalez, a Colombian 2020 Vision Campaigner of Mayors for Peace.

Local children also participated in creating this mural, which was inspired by concepts introduced in the “Making Peace” exhibition, an international photo exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro from August 1 to September 21, 2016.

>Information on “Making Peace” exhibition

>Related article: Opening of “Making Peace” exhibition in Rio de Janeiro