JACARÉS, installation, 2008

Twenty inflatable alligators painted red formed a temporary installation in Joinville’s historically polluted Cachoeira River.

The river is closely tied to the history of the city and was intensely polluted by the textile-dyeing industry, which discharged residue directly into the water and caused it to change color continually. By the time of the installation, new regulations had been introduced to protect the river and its animals, but pollution persisted.

Created with Renato Veiga, Ricardo Ledoux, and Kadú Martins for the 38th Coletiva de Artistas de Joinville, the work introduced a conspicuous group of artificial animals into this urban waterway. The repeated toy forms and uniform red surface produced a playful but visibly unnatural presence within the river and its surrounding cityscape.

Presented by the Joinville Art Museum. Photographs by Peninha Machado document the installation and its relationship to the river, bridges, and downtown landscape.