it represent the 30,000 workers that created one of the worlds most interesting planned cities: Brasilia. These are they who came from all over Brazil, to realize a dream and fulfill a country's destiny, because they were building the new capital of their country. They knew they were working on something greater than themselves, they were not building structures or edifices, they were planting a new culture, a new way of life, a new legacy. They left blood, sweat and tears along the way. They lived in almost complete isolation. There was nothing civilized close to them.
They had to bond together -- They were all they had. They struggled with incredible boredom and homesickness.
Only 50 years later in 2010 when Brasilia celebrated it's fiftieth birthday do the Candangos receive a long overdue recognition and appreciation for this most incredible city.
This statue is very special to me..... It was the logo and brand of our high school. In the gym we were the EAB Bulls, but really, we were the international transplanted "Candangos". We identified with this symbol.
We were all we had.
We too struggled with boredom and homesickness. We reached out across nationalities, cultures and language to survive.....only then could we figure out if we could thrive in this odd corner of the world--our global village.
The statue reminds the world of those workers, who bonded in solidarity to create this very special place. We all feel that bond. We leaned on each other to get through. By living there, we became Candangos ourselves.... except we were building something a bit different....something special, just like they did. Something that would change our lives....yes, even a legacy that has spanned three decades. At first we didn't know, but, eventually we found out that we were proud to call Brasilia our home. The immersion and confinement of the physical and geographical constraints had an interesting and compelling way of working into our hearts....finding the fertile soil of friendship.
Compared to the rest of Brazil it was hardly anything. Bereft of entertainment, sports, music, diversity or culture... We had to make up our own, and we did. We played on and around the modernistic monoliths of architecture: Congresso Nacional (The cup and saucer) , the Catholic Cathedral etc....we did what we could to use our imagination and creativity to keep our sanity and survive.
It forced some of my classmates to create entire genres of music that went on to influence all of Brazil. (Plebe Rude, Capital Inicial). It produced artists, musicians, politicians, diplomats, judges, entrepreneurs.
The memories of these images never leave me. They are part of me. They seem as comfortable now as they did then. But time does pass, it can fade the edges of these memories... and just when they seem to start to fade too much, there is something that brings them back into full color and life.
Just the other day I stumbled upon this picture on FB. Two classmates and friends of mine from high school. Ricky and Flavia... 30 years later....
To the casual viewer looks very much like friends taking a typical photo in front of the cliche "tourist site". This couldn't be further from the truth.
No... This is dramatically different. The irony brought me to my emotional knees. Two Candangos, two of the best and brightest of all of us....in front of the Congresso, as if posing like the original statue. This was a "Candango" reunion of epic proportions....This was bigger then them. They probably have no idea what they truly represent. The sweet connection of their hand holding reminds me of the feeling we still have for one another--that special bond of our shared experience and deep friendship after 3 decades.
That pose, opened a door for all of us to be there with them....knowing exactly what that moment would feel, smell and taste like. All the feelings come flooding back...
Can I just say how much I love the fact they the two of them have so much mutual fondness and friendship that has been sustained over so many years. Just two high school kids that loved art.... who knew if their paths would every cross again? .....An then to meet back there in the 'cement city' all these years later.... so simple, so sweet.
My heart hurts so good that they did....Muito Obrigado pela memoria tao forte e tao significante!
The statue reminds the world of those workers, who bonded in solidarity to create this very special place. We all feel that bond. We leaned on each other to get through. By living there, we became Candangos ourselves.... except we were building something a bit different....something special, just like they did. Something that would change our lives....yes, even a legacy that has spanned three decades. At first we didn't know, but, eventually we found out that we were proud to call Brasilia our home. The immersion and confinement of the physical and geographical constraints had an interesting and compelling way of working into our hearts....finding the fertile soil of friendship.
Compared to the rest of Brazil it was hardly anything. Bereft of entertainment, sports, music, diversity or culture... We had to make up our own, and we did. We played on and around the modernistic monoliths of architecture: Congresso Nacional (The cup and saucer) , the Catholic Cathedral etc....we did what we could to use our imagination and creativity to keep our sanity and survive.
It forced some of my classmates to create entire genres of music that went on to influence all of Brazil. (Plebe Rude, Capital Inicial). It produced artists, musicians, politicians, diplomats, judges, entrepreneurs.
The memories of these images never leave me. They are part of me. They seem as comfortable now as they did then. But time does pass, it can fade the edges of these memories... and just when they seem to start to fade too much, there is something that brings them back into full color and life.
To the casual viewer looks very much like friends taking a typical photo in front of the cliche "tourist site". This couldn't be further from the truth.
No... This is dramatically different. The irony brought me to my emotional knees. Two Candangos, two of the best and brightest of all of us....in front of the Congresso, as if posing like the original statue. This was a "Candango" reunion of epic proportions....This was bigger then them. They probably have no idea what they truly represent. The sweet connection of their hand holding reminds me of the feeling we still have for one another--that special bond of our shared experience and deep friendship after 3 decades.
That pose, opened a door for all of us to be there with them....knowing exactly what that moment would feel, smell and taste like. All the feelings come flooding back...
They are us....
Can I just say how much I love the fact they the two of them have so much mutual fondness and friendship that has been sustained over so many years. Just two high school kids that loved art.... who knew if their paths would every cross again? .....An then to meet back there in the 'cement city' all these years later.... so simple, so sweet.
My heart hurts so good that they did....Muito Obrigado pela memoria tao forte e tao significante!
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