Today was a special day. Kelly (15) and Andrea (24), who live on the street, came to our house, had a shower, had food, we talked. To meet them and be together was like blowing an invisible wall. Kelly loved to shower, all happy and enthusiastic, jumping around at the sight of her own pictures. We had a big lunch together, so normal, an everyday custom. With them it was a new experience, to choose what you want, relax and have as many as you like. Andrea could barely eat because her teeth are infected and almost gone. She anyway didn’t want to go to a dentist, since she was afraid for the police. Realising it is her choice, her life, and not to treat her as merely a victim that only needs help. As every person she needs to be treated as a human being.
We all got in the car and went to Elevada Pres. Artur da Costa E Silva, where we clothed Andrea and Kelly to do a fashion shoot with them. They were having fun together, being like famous models…people walked by, staring, waving. We got very close to each other, clothing them, breaking boundaries. All the concepts we talk about when having intellectual conversations about people living on the street fall away on the moment Andrea gives me a big hug. We will work together more often, developing our work, deepening the connection.
All the clothes are by Lica Stein.
