Thursday, February 13, 2020

Monument of Bandeiras - A Controversial Monument!

For barely half an hour at the Church our Lady in Sao Paulo (Igreja Nossa Senhora do Brasil), we then moved on to visit the Monument of Bandeiras, a massive sculpture reckoned to be one of the largest monuments in the world.

The sculpture erected in front of Ibirapuera Park is dedicated to the Portuguese conquerors who finally took control of the whole of Brazil from the hands of the indigenous people. Brazil was under Portuguese rule from the 16th to early19th centuries.

To some, this is considered a unique artwork. But to some, this monument is controversial and even repugnant. The celebration of individuals responsible for the genocide and slavery of the indigenous people is viewed as an affront to the dignity of the local population. This is grossly incompatible with the concept of equality and non-subjugation.

Aerial view of Ibirapuera Park. The Monument of Bandeiras Monument is strategically located inside a massive roundabout.
Group photo in front of the monument.

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After the visit to the monument, we walked across the road to the lake side of Ibirapuera Park before moving on.

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