Dionisio González’s ‘Favela’ Photographs Reimagine Brazil’s Shantytowns

NEW YORK—Inspired by the spacial and social complexity of Brazil’s favaelas, artist and documentary photographer Dionisio González has re-imagined the poor urban dwellings through the lens of modern and contemporary architecture. “Favelas” at Galerie Richard includes digitally manipulated images from 2004 and 2006 that pose an intriguing challenge to aesthetic notions of shantytowns.

The gallery describes the work thus: “The very poor urban suburbs in Brazil are the perfect subject as the so-called documentary photography with ethnologic, sociological political, urbanistic, architectural and voyeurists contents.…González reclaims the favela, and transforms it into a destination. The works allude to global architecture, or the aftermath of gentrification however, they offer no certainties.”

The images are on view from Feb. 23 to April 14, 2012.

All photos by Arts Observer


The exhibit includes nine large-format c-prints created in 2004 and 2006.


“Jornalista Roberto Marinho III,” 2004 (c-print).

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Detail of “Nova Heliópolis III,” 2004 (c-print).


“Nova Acqua Gasosa II,” 2004 (c-print).


Detail of “Nova Ipiranga III,” 2004 (c-print).

There are 2 comments

  1. Brad Yarbrough

    I kept some articles on a show where you featured Dionisio Gonzalez. I loved his work. Do you still represent him? If so, is there a price list that you could email me.

    Thank you for your time.

    1. Editor

      Contact Galerie Richard in the Chelsea gallery district in New York City where Dionisio Gonzalez’s work was exhibited and you should be able to get some information about his available work and pricing.

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