This documentary features garbage pickers at Rio’s ‘Jardim Gramancho’, the world’s largest rubbish dump. The backbone of the story is provided by Brazilian modern artist Vik Muniz, as he attempts to give something back to his home country by collaborating with some of Jardim Gramancho’s residents. Vik himself grew up in the slums of Brazil and so there is an air of guilt surrounding those still living in such poor conditions. His intentions are good, but he’s equally pessimistic about their potential state of minds when he eventually leaves; a few months of a transformed life might make it impossible to go back to trawling through rubbish for survival. (more…)

Pablo Picasso – Citizen Cope

Anselm Kiefer’s Margarete – 1981

I love poetry for two principal reasons. One, because of the rhythm it gives to words on a page; the sensuality and vulnerability it can give to the reader, and two, because it makes me feel more at peace with myself – (more…)

Brassai’s “Rue Quincampoix”

I suppose if you ask anyone how they got to where they are in their life, they can’t give a clear answer. Maybe the actor got a lucky break, the lawyer won a major case and the housewife simply got married. (more…)

Elinor Carucci: After Argument

There’s this wall between us. This wall that we can’t get past; the unknown reason why we no longer communicate. What happened to a good old-fashioned discussion? When we speak, we argue. (more…)