Guto Requena signs an artwork of more than 7 tons in Sorocaba

The architect Guto Requena - from the cast of CASACOR São Paulo - signs an exclusive work of art, weighing more than 7 tons, at Planeta Square Garden, a multi-use complex under construction at Portal da Colina, in Sorocaba (SP). The sculpture, called Encontros, is open for visitation and general public use in the community square of the enterprise. According to Estúdio Guto Requena, the creation is a hybrid between art and urban furniture, combining aesthetics through its artistic elements and public utility practices, offering people a space to sit and relax amidst the city.

Guto used technological resources to digitally model the sculpture. The material chosen for the production of the pieces is corten steel, which ensures durability and resistance to climate variations. “It has a robust materiality that is meant to be a sculpture that lasts for hundreds of years. Corten steel is a material that oxidizes and becomes increasingly beautiful over time. Shades of brown and copper and a reddish hue were chosen. We want the work to be a landmark, a place where people can take pictures and sit around,” explains the architect. The work references Brazilian cultural diversity and the historical Caminho do Peabiru, a network of indigenous trails over 3,000 km that connects the coastal region of São Paulo to Cusco, Peru. This ancient network was essential for trade between the Incas and native Brazilians, and it is believed that the route passed through the Sorocaba region. Additionally, the work is inspired by the concept of a wheel, symbolizing the union and connection between people. As part of the tribute to indigenous roots, the project incorporates words in Tupi throughout the installation. “It is a tribute to the indigenous peoples who inhabited the region, so that each petal of this large monument carries a word from Tupi-Guarani, which was the language spoken by a large part of the indigenous peoples in this area. The last petal is positioned at a significant height, marking the arrival at the final destination of the route. Despite the rigidity of the material, the petals in sequence have an effect of movement and fluidity, forming this large wheel of encounters,” explains Guto, who is from Sorocaba and, despite living in São Paulo, still has a strong connection to the city.