Looming over glass and steel, red brick boxes with corrugated roofs creep and spread up the hillside, casting long shadows across the city beneath. In these winding alleys, souls are born like sparks, flaring bright against the night’s sky. Some burn longer, some vanish in a flash, but all leave their heavy traces on the landscape.

Over a two year period, Jermain Cikic immersed himself In the vibrant heart of Morro dos Prazeres, a favela nestled in the hills of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The ’77 project portrays the daily life of a tight-knit community with vibrant, pulsating streets.

When living in the favela – as a temporary neighbour to its long-term residents – the camera allowed Cikic a chance to connect with those he encountered, whilst the subsequent act of careful image-making was a means to cement this mutual trust. At a nearby football project established by the artist’s friend, local children work to transform their fortunes, receiving mentorship, guidance and invaluable support. In a place overlooked by the state and shaped by deep inequality, sport opens up new pathways, beyond the immediate maze of narrow streets and haphazard shacks.

Through intimate portraits of locals, young and old, as well as careful attention to the neighbourhood’s many textures, Cikic captures a community often seen but rarely understood.

What began as a visit through a friend’s football project soon grew into a deeper connection, a return to a place where life unfolds with a raw rhythm, shaped by resilience and the strength of community.