Christ, Bible and Iemanjá: monuments and religious diversity in Brazil

This article analyzes three cases in which monuments are based on religious references: a statue of Christ in Rio Grande do Sul, the sculpture of a Bible in Rio de Janeiro and an image of Iemanjá in Maranhão. The objective of our elaborations is to take these objects as forms of presence, respectively, of Catholicism, evangelical faith and Afro-Brazilian religions in public space. The analyses focus on two points: the insertion of these monumentalized objects, with their specific materialities, in the urban landscape and the modes of interaction with their audiences that these monuments aim for or that support them. We seek to contribute to discussions about the configurations of Brazilian religious diversity and the consequences of certain ways of occupying public spaces.

Keywords:
monuments; religious diversity; public space