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 (1902). The novel describes the civil war (1893 -1897) between the Republic and a group of some 30,000 monarchists who had settled in Canudos, their own community in the northeastern province of Bahia. The conflict came to a brutal end when a large army force killed most of its inhabitants. Canudos lies in an arid region where struggles against poverty and political corruption continue until today.
For his park, based on Rebellion in the Backlands, Burle Marx used succulents and cacti from Bahia, bringing not only a dry and neglected area into the centre of Recife, but also a traumatic history.
The original plan for the park was not adhered to. Fruit trees appeared where Burle Marx had not imagined them. No original construction drawings of the park can be found. The reconstruction that took place in 2004 was not based on the original design by Burle Marx, but on interpretations of a single sketch and memories.

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Music and piano by Peter Lunow 
Remix by Nathalie Bruys
Text and voice: Maria Barnas
Translation and voice: Nanne Timmer

Graphic design: Felix Salut

 

This project has been made possible by Made in Mirrors. Made in Mirrors foundation enables artistic exchange of professionals and ideas among different regions of the world, by exploring the topic of cultural diversity. With special thanks to Stijn Huijts and Cristina Tejo of Made in Mirrors for inviting me to Recife.