A Quebradinha, a project that represents and historically documents the knowledge and technologies of Brazil’s peripheries and favelas through miniature Quebradinha sculptures, was created in 2019. It emerged from the convergence of perspectives, experiences, and insights accumulated by its creator, Marcelino Melo.
The miniature sculptures, known as Quebradinhas, capture a variety of elements and viewpoints that define the peripheries and favelas. Collectively, they convey more than the architectural forms of these territories; they embody the resilience, strengths, and struggles intrinsic to the communities and their residents.
Beyond serving as a historical record and representation of peripheral memories, the Quebradinha works invite reflection on issues historically embedded in everyday life in these communities, arising from social and economic inequalities.
Each work independently draws attention to issues of housing and living conditions, with every sculpture prompting reflection on a distinct challenge—highlighted in its details, from sanitation and evictions to hunger, precarious nutrition, religion, and other pressing themes. Through art, these pieces create a space for contemplation of daily life, local knowledge, and the architecture of the peripheries.
