Graffiti, Tourism and the Resignification of Peripheral Urban Territories:

Interview with Fernando Morais (VIELAS – Cultural Space)

Abstract

Contemporary graffiti art has contributed to the resignification of spaces and territories historically marked by avoidance and social stigmatization. By directly enhancing residents’ self-esteem and encouraging visits to areas where this artistic production is concentrated, lived urban space is consequently reinvented. In the Euzébio Beltrão de Queiróz neighborhood, in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, community initiatives articulated by local leadership have promoted the redefinition of historical stigmas associated with urban peripheries through art, curatorial practices, and collective action. Based on the testimony of community leader Fernando Morais, this study presents the creation and development of the Mosaico na Quebrada project and the VIELAS – Cultural Space. His narrative highlights that collaborative cultural practices—particularly graffiti—supported by Cultural Incentive Laws, strengthened by community engagement, and articulated with other sectors of society, foster urban improvements, reinforce local identity, and encourage tourism both from local residents and visitors originating from other territories. Fernando Morais identifies himself as a “native” of the neighborhood, as does a significant part of his family, which has been established there since the formation of the community. The interview was conducted at the headquarters of the VIELAS – Cultural Space on January 8, 2024.