Ao Pé do Ouvido

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With the project Ao Pé do Ouvido (By the Ear), we lend an ear to the voices of those who have found a new home in São Paulo — migrants and refugees, foreigners or Brazilians. Each voice carries a dream, the one that sparked their journey in search of a better future. These stories unfold through small speakers, placed on the wall at the exact height of each participant’s ear — as if they were whispering their hopes directly to us.

Longings vary, just as the languages do, weaving together in a polyphonic tapestry. In this gentle chorus, voices take on different tones, sketching a portrait of São Paulo through its dreams. The installation invites us to listen — to the newcomers, to the city, and perhaps, quietly, to our own desires.

With the dreams of: Adriana, Annette, Ariannys, Arody, Bibiche, Carla, Carmen, Carnex, Catarina, Charlotte, Claudia, Claudine, Cristiane, Djalma, Djuma, Esteban, Fabienne, Hajira, Hortense, Jose, Julio, Kric, Manuel, Marc, Marie-Cleide, Marie, Marlene, Michaelle, Mirkaella, Mohammad, Nahomie, Nena, Nivenson, Omar, Ony, Roque, Rosa, Shanglais, Solange, Sonia L., Sonia R., Soveyda, Thiago, Veronica, Wendy, Wilfrid, Yari, Yasmin and Zacarias.

Curator: Mônica Hoff
Coordination: Thiego Montiel
With the invaluable help of Sara Lana
Speaker were recycled with Ciclo3 São Paulo
Installation: Matias Oliveira, Taygoara Schiavinoto
Text by Mônica Hoff here
Many thanks to Ana Bersani, Ana Medina, Ana Roman, Anderson Oliveira, Carmen Silva, Chico Bahia, Cristina Simone Dias, Erell Le Pape, Paolo Parise, Patrice Pauc, Paula Signorelli, Márcia Araujo, Nadège Mézié
and all the Pivô 2022 ciclo II residents,
as well as the whole team of Cieja Perus 1: Cris, Daniela, Fran, Gui, Kric, Patrícia, Rossini, Sergio and all the teachers.

This project was realized as part of Pivô Research residence, with the support of Consulat General of France in São Paulo and the collaboration of CIEJA Perus 1, CAMI, Ocupação 9 de Julho, Casa do Povo and Missão Paz in 2022.

Exhibitions: Pivô Open Studio (São Paulo, Br, 2022), Chapelle des Jésuites (Chaumont, Fr, 2025), Centre d’Art Le Lait (Albi, Fr, 2025),