Rio de Janeiro, or the image that you will look at with summer saudade.
self-taught artist Based in Rio de Janeiro, João Incerti paints colorful works with essentially Brazilian motifs: tigers, flowers, bright suns.... His designs have recently been part of a campaign for the international fashion brand Farm Rio.
This interview is part of "The World Made Local" , a global project of Condé Nast Traveler in the seven international editions, which gives voice to 100 people in 100 countries to find out why their own territory should be your next destination.
How would you describe Rio de Janeiro? What makes it unique? Is there a smell, sound or taste that instantly reminds you of the city?
I love Rio. I love it because it is relaxed, calm and disorganized . Nothing seems too serious, you go out to do one thing and end up doing another. I feel like I can't plan my day, because the city surprises me.
I love being close to the beach and also to the forest. Is connection with nature it is really special: the way the city was built to integrate the mountains is amazing. I am amazed every time I pass by the Lagoa or by the Flamenco beach Y Botafogo.
Tell us a secret about your city or your country that we may not know
A "secret" of Brazil is that not all cities are tropical , warm and sunny. Brazil is a huge country! We have a huge diversity of cultures, people and climate. Many people come here thinking that everything is samba, football and carnival, but this is a big mistake: for example, I hate football, I can't watch a single game and I'm not a big fan of samba either. Brazil is an incredibly complex country , with many social contrasts —many!— and each state is completely different.
COVID hit us hard and many people lost their jobs: people are starving, many places have closed, many people have died, and we get bad news every day. I can't ignore those problems.
João Incerti, Brazil.
If a friend was visiting the city for only 24 hours, what would you recommend?
He would recommend that you stay at Chez George Airbnb . It is a beautiful house with a great view of Santa Teresa and a delicious breakfast. Then, for him to go straight to the Horto Falls and spend some time there getting energized by nature and water. After that, to cycle across the Lagoa to Ipanema.
He would advise her to eat the “Itanhanga sandwich” (salmon with pesto and buffalo mozzarella) accompanied by Silvester Juice, in ballad mix , a tropical restaurant that I love. Then go directly to Ipanema beach to watch the sunset.
When you travel or are abroad, what do you miss most about your country?
When I'm away from home, what I miss the most is the tranquility of Rio . Going out in flip flops, dressing comfortably, places to eat are not fancy and don't take long, people wear colorful clothes... It's an energy I feel, I can't explain it.
There is also flavors i miss ... tapioca, brigadeiros (a typical chocolate candy), requeijão (cottage cheese), rice with beans, guaraná, pão de queijo (cheese bread balls that are usually eaten for breakfast) and acai. You have to try all this in Brazil: at Maria Açai you have to ask for the açai, and to eat a pão de queijo I like Rei do Mate; where you can also drink mate (although the best is from the vendors on the beach).
Finally, what is your favorite place that you return to over and over again?
Could my favorite place of all time be my home? It's a joke. (Editor's note: Photos of Incerti's house, which is covered in his paintings, can be seen on his Instagram account @o_incerti.) I like the rasta beach , in leme . I feel very comfortable there and I always meet friends or elegant people. Everything in Rio has to do with the beach and the sun.