Dutch artists Haas & Hahn have taken to projects in Brazilian slums or favelas, transforming the dilapidated facades in the area to canvases for painting. The one featured above is a work called Rio Cruzeiro, a painting of a concrete structure supporting the stairs in Vila Cruzeiro, Rio de Janeiro. The inspiration for the work came from the water runways that ran beneath the steep concrete structure.

The stylization of rushing water into overlapping cascade of curves fits naturally with the curved surface of the concrete walls, imbuing the entire work an exciting sense of dynamism. The red of the carp goes will with the red railings of the stairs, their vibrant hues enlivening the neighborhood. However, the ink painting style of the work, together with the dark red railings of the stairs, gives the work a distinctly Asian feel that does not quite fit with the rest of the neighborhood. I cannot help but think that a greater connection between the aesthetics of the work and its locale would have made the work more meaningful to its residents.