Mão, Public sculpture at Memorial da América Latina, São Paulo, Brazil
Mão is a monumental concrete sculpture at the Memorial da América Latina cultural complex in the Barra Funda neighborhood of São Paulo. The hand rises from the plaza floor and displays an open palm with a red marking visible from several meters away.
Oscar Niemeyer designed the sculpture in 1989 as part of his project for the Memorial da América Latina, meant to celebrate the cultural unity of the continent. The work was completed together with the other buildings and artworks of the complex and is protected under the heritage listings of the city of São Paulo.
The red color on the palm symbolizes the suffering and struggles of Latin American peoples throughout their history. Visitors often pause before the sculpture and photograph the expressive gesture that stands out against the sky.
The sculpture stands on an open plaza within the complex and is best viewed during daylight when natural light highlights the surface details. Access is through the main entrance of the Memorial da América Latina, and the surrounding walkways are flat and easy to navigate.
The red marking on the palm is not painted but embedded into the concrete surface, making it permanently visible. On rainy days, water collects in the hollows of the palm and enhances the visual effect of the red marking.
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