Monument to the Flag in São Paulo

The Monument to the Flags is a monument in São Paulo, Brazil, that commemorates the Bandeirantes Paulistas. A group of colonists explored the territory of the Portuguese colony as Brazil expanded its limits. The Monument, designed by Victor Brecheret, is one of the most significant statues in the state. The story of the Bandeirantes plays a significant role in the cultural and physical territory of São Paulo, and many regard them as ‘heroes and founding fathers’. However, the figure of the Bandeirantes started to be contested in the early 2010s due to the questionable way they treated natives and enslaved people during their expeditions. This case study examines the impact of the Monument on changing Brazilian society and the ongoing salience of its contestation process to the present day.