CAFUNÉ

Cafuné (n.) -Brazilian Portuguese- the act of tenderly running one´s fingers through someone´s hair. Cafuné is a project which illustrates a fundamental period in Brazilian history; particularly that of the city of Rio de Janeiro and its inhabitants. As a visual diary, it mixes the author's personal experiences with his work as a photojournalist. The project addresses relevant issues such as the “pacification” of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, as well as several of the events the city has hosted over the last seven years. Besides topics such as the World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Pope’s visit and the massive protests in 2013, the project also offers insights into high society, religion, impoverished communities and exuberantly festive, local celebrations. All drenched in the joy and sorrow of a city as intense and unequal as Rio de Janeiro. Cafuné, a word that exists only in Brazilian Portuguese, is a gesture of affection towards a loved one. This work, therefore, is a personal reconciliation with a city of extremes, a desire to honor and remember the circumstances, lives and people found there. A bittersweet farewell to the, so called, Marvelous City. 2011-2018