In a discreet little corner of CASACOR SP 2025 is one of the most poetic tributes to the space that hosts the 38th edition of the exhibition: the art installation "Parque da Água Branca", by Iury Simões. There are 42 small watercolored panels that make up the decoration of the functional café designed by architect Daniela Andrade. Each of them portrays a character who frequents the park, including children, workers, and animals. Iury Simões posa ao lado de sua instalação artística na CASACOR SP 2025 (Instagram/@iurysimoes.art/Divulgação)
The plastic artist from Ceará juggles work at a carpet company, creating content for social media, and art— which carries symbolisms that may go unnoticed by the less attentive visitors of CASACOR. It all began through the mediation of Pedro Ariel, the content and relationship director of CASACOR. He was the one who introduced Iury Simões' work to Daniela. The architect was enchanted by the drawings, allowing the artist total freedom to create whatever he wanted for the composition of his projects. Daniela Andrade - Café com Tempo. Influenciado pela vibrante história do Parque da Água Branca e seus personagens, eternizados nas aquarelas do artista Iury Simões, surge o café de 203 m². A mesa Célula, desenvolvida pela arquiteta especialmente para esse uso, gera inúmeros arranjos graças a seu formato. A iluminação intimista e as cerâmicas artesanais são dignas de nota, bem como o teto: uma superfície metálica ondulada criada pelo artista Ivan Coelho para se parecer com uma pele líquida flutuante. “E se o inconsciente, as emoções, o fluxo da memória, frequentemente associados à água, pairassem sobre nós, como um céu interior?”, questiona a autora. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)
“We transformed a space that could have just been a passage into a time capsule. This shows that there are no bad spaces, there is a lack of creativity!” Iury states in an interview with CASACOR. Equity Among the Characters
One of the most interesting aspects of the installation “Parque da Água Branca” was the concern in faithfully portraying the local visitors. Simões recounts that he made three visits to the park—each with a spreadsheet in hand, tallying the characters he was seeking. “I created a system of equity. Since I had this choice, I made a list and waited for the right person to pass by. It was a bit more challenging; otherwise, I would have easily finished the drawings in an hour. But I think it's important [to think about representativity],” he explains. Personagens do Parque da Água Branca retratados por Iury Simões (Milena Garcia/CASACOR)
One of the focal points of Iury's work, both inside and outside CASACOR, is depicting workers. His intention is to pay attention to “people who often remain invisible amidst the chaos of São Paulo.” He adds: “Those people are real, but they also represent everyone.” Technique Stands Out
Beyond its poetic meaning, Iury Simões' work also grabs attention for its curious technique. This is because the artist developed his own mini-palette that allows him to draw as quickly as possible. Mini-paletas do artista Iury Simões (Instagram/@iurysimoes.art/Divulgação)
There are three portable models: a watch with 12 pigments, a ring with 8 pigments, and another with only 3 pigments (yellow, red, and blue). Thanks to these, the self-proclaimed "poet of colors" manages to finish a drawing like those exhibited in CASACOR in just 12 minutes after a brief observation of his character. Personagem de Iury Simões no Parque da Água Branca (Milena Garcia/CASACOR)
His preference is always for those who are moving, hence the importance of speed. “It’s all very organic. I don't want to disturb people, and I also don’t draw those who pose. If the person doesn’t know they are being drawn, it’s better, more natural.” Next Steps for the Artist
It is no surprise that Iury Simões' project is winning so many admirers at CASACOR SP 2025. As a result, the artist reveals that he is receiving various requests to sell the works from “Parque da Água Branca”—which he received total freedom from Daniela Andrade to do. Ilustração do Parque da Água Branca, por Iury Simões (Instagram/@iurysimoes.art/Divulgação)
However, the artist from Ceará reveals that he still has doubts about the fate of the works after the exhibition. “The pieces on display at CASACOR are the originals; I do not make copies of my work. Therefore, my concern is whether to separate the characters or not. They were made in a very specific poetic context, so I’m contemplating whether to sell the individual pieces or the entire set. Ilustração de operário da CASACOR SP 2025, por Iury Simões (Milena Garcia/CASACOR)
Beyond CASACOR, Iury carries another ambitious goal: to gather 1,000 characters in a new project! The collection is named “Andarilhos” and includes drawings made in every corner of Brazil. “My real desire is to finish the thousand characters and find a cultural space or a gallery to exhibit them. I already have 800, even 820 so far… But I take it slowly; at the right time, it will happen,” Iury Simões concludes— with the sparkle in his eyes of someone who knows the value of his art lies beyond the lines he draws, but in the stories he tells along the way. 
