Engulfed in controversy the statue of Borba Gato stands tall. Right here in S\u00e3o Paulo we meet a figure of intense debate. Borba Gato was a bandeirante. Bandeirantes were explorers and adventurers in early Colonial Brazil. But their legacy is far from heroic for many Brazilians.
Borba Gato explored Brazil’s interior. He hunted natives to enslave them. He sought wealth. He was also a fugitive and a gold smuggler. His actions led to the enslavement and death of countless indigenous and black people. He also contributed to the destruction of quilombos. Quilombos were maroon societies formed by runaway slaves.
The statue of Borba Gato stands thirteen meters high. Julio Guerra created it. Construction finished in 1963. It stands in Augusto Tortorelo de Arajo Square. The statue has sparked outrage. People question honoring a man known for evil acts.
In 2021 protestors set the Borba Gato statue ablaze. This occurred during rallies against President Jair Bolsonaro. The act highlighted the pain and anger. It targeted historical figures associated with slavery. The phrase “Fogo nos Racistas” became a rallying cry. It means “put fire to the racists”.
The statue is made of stone and marble. It is covered in different colored basalt stones. Tram tracks from Avenida Santo Amaro support it inside. Around 25 meters from the statue are mosaic tile panels. They recount stories of Santo Amaro.
The burning of the Borba Gato statue sparked intense debate. Some people defended the statue as historical heritage. They argued for preservation and reflection. Others saw it as a symbol of oppression. They advocated for its removal or destruction.
The group Revolu\u00e7\u00e3o Perif\u00e9rica claimed responsibility for the fire. They questioned the statue’s existence. They asked “Do you know who Borba Gato was?” The act reignited discussions about controversial monuments.
The Borba Gato statue has long been controversial. Art critics have shunned its dubious aesthetic. Some found it an embarrassment to the city. Others saw it as a symbol of Santo Amaro.
In 2007 Sesc Santo Amaro staged a temporary disappearance of the statue. This was to spark debate. They spread rumors. They organized school visits to the “disappeared” monument. The stunt broadened discussions about the monument.
Stylists were once invited to design new costumes for Borba Gato. This was an iconoclastic proposal. It marked the city’s anniversary. The designs ranged from casual attire to burqas.
The statue continues to mobilize society. New interventions take place. These are carried out by new protagonists. The statue of Borba Gato is a tough pill to swallow. It represents a past that still affects the present.
The statue stands at the intersection of Santo Amaro and Adolfo Pinheiro avenues. It serves as a constant reminder. It embodies the open wounds of an unequal society. It forces us to confront our history.
What should we do with controversial monuments? Should they stand? Should they be removed? Or should they be set ablaze? The Borba Gato statue forces us to grapple with these questions. It encourages us to think about the present. It urges us to recognize the wounds of the past.