photographer William Rice Shared an exclusive look at a recently released independent photobook o novo rio (New Rio) With attitude.
A variety of photographs taken between 2015 and 2022, during the rule of the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro government, tell the story of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro and its young people.
Filming locations include the iconic Ipanema Beach, a nature reserve far south of the city, the historic downtown, various favelas, and what is said to be the largest queer club in South America.
Featuring designs by George Houghton, the release explores Rio’s queer community and how they “create agency and intimacy in a time of oppression through a combination of identity and self-expression, new Brazilian fashion and nocturnal escapism.” We are paying particular attention to how they are discovered. According to the book rep.
William Rice speaks on O NOVO RIO
All photos in O NOVO RIO were taken on trips made between 2015 and 2022. Rio has always had a strong fascination with me, and it started when I saw James’ Bond movie Moonraker when I was a kid. I remember thinking Rio was amazing. During the fight scene on the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain, the entire city felt completely otherworldly and literally looked like another planet. I would later understand the limited narrative that Rio was given in Western culture, but it planted the seed that this city and Brazil were places I wanted to explore.
When I first visited Rio, I realized that it was multi-faceted, diverse and very real, contrary to what I had been shown in the media growing up in Ireland. Rio’s stories tended to be somewhat fantastical. There was a fairly narrow view of the city in photography, and fashion photography in particular showed very specific body types with narrow gender/racial/sexual expressions and were often photographed in a very fetishistic manner. This zine of his is called O Novo Rio (New Rio). Because the story in it was new to me. I don’t claim this is the definitive interpretation of a city I don’t live in, but I wanted to explore alternative stories to the ones I saw before my first visit.
The photos touch on everyday issues faced by young stars, including religion, politics, sexuality, gender, and the realities of living on the periphery of a huge urban environment. Filmed during the right-wing Jair Bolsonaro regime, O NOVO RIO explores Rio’s gay community and how they find agency in a time of repression through a combination of identity and self-expression, new Brazilian fashion, and nocturnal escapism. We pay particular attention to how people find intimacy with their children. .
Brazil, an overly politicized and overly religious society, reminded me of myself growing up in Northern Ireland during the tumultuous years of the late 80s and 90s.
Here, Rice provides the stories behind 12 images chosen specifically for Attitude.
“Hugo, Copacabana, 2022”
My name is Hugo López, a ballet dancer based in Rio. We shot at Copacabana Beach at night, where we and a bunch of kids were playing soccer. Just a normal night on the beach in Rio.
“Marlon, Devil’s Beach, 2022”
Marlon Sales (@marlon.ssales) is a ballet dancer and model from Brazil. He threw some crazy shapes at a little-known place called Devil’s Beach between Ipanema and Copacabana.
“Beatriz, Barra de Guarativa, 2022”
This is Beatriz Andrade (@trizandrads) Lives in Rio. She’s wearing a local independent clothing brand called Cosmo, which takes the colors, shapes and typography commonly seen around town and transforms them into beachwear.
“Icaro, Barra de Guarativa, 2022”
Rio is a huge city, so it takes at least an hour’s drive from the center to reach the city limits. This is Icaro Santilhana (@ikarosantilhana), a fearless model photographed in a beautiful location called Barra de Guarativa, far south of Rio.
“Nyala, 2022”
Nyala (@caianiara) is a Rio-based model and part of the city’s vibrant trans community. This image was taken a few weeks before Brazil’s last general election, during the waning days of Bolsonaro’s government. Although he was actively homophobic and transphobic, this image of Nyala shows the resistance and fortitude of her community.
“Bruno, Barra de Guarativa, 2022”
Bruno (@criolofino) is a model and stylist, and for this shoot she worked with local stylist Rafaela Pina to put together looks based on traditional Brazilian fabrics and styles.
“Hugo, Copacabana, 2022”
Another shot of Hugo Lopez (@hugoloopes) Dance at night at Copacabana. His free movement reflects the beauty of the people of Rio and the way they express themselves warmly and openly.
“Mateus 2022”
Mateus (@Frodebara) is from Rio and is a successful model and creative in Brazil. He goes by the name “Flo de Barra,” which means bullet wound in English. We thought it would be fun to stencil the image of Christ onto bleached hair.
A recent trend in Brazil is for women to make their own bikinis out of electrical tape and wear them to the beach for a day. We thought it would be cool to apply this idea to men’s swimwear, and ended up with something a little subversive.
“Felipe, Barra de Guarativa, 2022”
Felipe (@Afrofe) is a model based in Sao Paulo and Rio. The sun and shadow of Rio’s tropical climate make it a perfect location for photography.
“The Week Nightclub, 2017”
The Week is Brazil’s largest gay club, with thousands of gay men dancing until the wee hours of the morning every Saturday night. It’s electricity. On Sunday mornings, many clubbers dance until it’s time to go to church.