Michael von Graffenried

As Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second city with its 12 million inhabitants, is now preparing to welcome the Olympic Games this summer after hosting the World Cup two years ago, and whereas the country is suffering from a political crisis linked to an important corruption scandal, the photographer captures the transformation of the metropolis and its population within its diversity.

“For quite some time now, Rio has been the negative example of social inequality. Will this city of millions end up as a modernized and peaceful winner after the Olympic Games? Or will one only have memories of a big international event ? Will nothing have otherwise changed ?”

Rio est une ville en plein bouleversement. En vue des Jeux, il ne suffit pas de construire des installations sportives, il faut équiper toute la ville et tenter de rapprocher les 12 millions d’habitants de la mégalopole. Transformation de quartiers, pacification des favelas, rêve ou réalité?

Le photographe Michael von Graffenried a posé, depuis deux ans, son regard sur Rio. Il le transmet dans un livre, Changing Rio, publié aux éditions Slatkine.