Conceived as both an urban sculpture and a piece of public furniture, the installation draws inspiration from the Indigenous history of the region, celebrating encounter, memory, and collective space through a contemporary design language.
Encontros is a public artwork created by Estudio Guto Requena for Sorocaba, the hometown of Guto Requena. Its circular, spiral form symbolizes encounter, exchange, and the crossroads of the Indigenous peoples who historically inhabited and crossed the region. Made of weathering steel, each petal features laser-cut words revealing place names of Indigenous origin, creating an affective connection between the artwork, the territory, and its residents. Blending urban furniture and public art, the installation offers a space for contemplation, gathering, and connection, while bringing visibility to Indigenous narratives that are fundamental to understanding the history of Sorocaba and Brazil.
