Prestes Maia Occupation

Prestes Maia, was a colossal abandoned clothes factory that towers over central Sao Paulo, and the biggest occupation of Latin America. With 22 storeys in total, was home to 468 families; almost 2,000 people from the MSTC (Downtown Homeless People's Movement). The owners of the building, who do not possess the title deed, abandoned the building for twenty years and owe close to BRL$5 million (EUR$1.8 million) in taxes. But, an injunction has been issued for the repossession of the building. I've started documenting some fragments of their social changes at June, 2005. It's a piece of the history of São Paulo's society, where I was born. The building, it's people, their constant fear of loosing everything, some smiles, the fight.

About

Photographer | visual artist | independent | dreamer. Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

I used to work for the editorial market as art director and graphic designer, but since the end of 2005, I’ve been concentrating my activities in the production of social images, using as support the documentary photography. It’s in this area that I produce interpretations through visual search, with emphasis on inequality issues and images that seek the humanity existing through different socio-cultural identities.

Prizes and eminences:

• Nominated for the National Geographic All Roads Photography Award – 2007
• 2nd place award at Portrait Blogs class at “The Best of the Journalism 2006” – Web Site Winners NPPA (National Press Photographers Association)
• 2nd place award at Festival and Event Blogs class at “The Best of the Journalism 2006” – Web Site Winners NPPA (National Press Photographers Association)
• XXIX April Journalism Award at the Best Educational Reportage class – as art direction – 2004
• Esso Journalism Award at the Best Graphic Creation in magazine class – 2003
• XXVIII April Journalism Award at the Best Produced Reportage in Photography class – 2002
• XXVI April Journalism Award at the Best Photography Edition class – 2000

Tatiana Cardeal's current location:
Sao Paulo , Brazil ( GRU )

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Prestes Maia Occupation

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