Welcome to "Concrete Stories", a series by Showtime that explores the creative essence of Barcelona. Through short interviews and portraits, we highlight the lives and work of artists, skaters, tattooists, and other visionaries shaping the city’s urban culture.
We're kicking off this journey with Gabirinja, a creative whose story is as dynamic as the streets she navigates. Stay tuned as we uncover more unique perspectives from Barcelona’s creative scene.
1. Describe what you do and yourself:
I am a young artist and skater who moved to Barcelona in 2022. I have a dog who, like me, is Brazilian, and every day I try to discover a little more about myself.
2. How has your experience of settling in as a migrant and artist in Barcelona been?
It’s still ongoing. Many surprises and unexpected paths have come up along the way. I’ve met people for whom I would live through it all again just to share the moments we’ve had. It’s a challenging process for someone coming from a completely different reality, but it’s worth it every single day. It’s all about not giving up and believing in yourself.
3. As a tattoo artist, artist, and skater, how do you think your migratory experience from Brazil to Barcelona has influenced your artistic expression?
It’s been revolutionary. Every step, whether forward or backward, leaves a deep mark on me, and that reflects in my art and my style on the board. Everything is in constant motion, and being here feels like being everywhere at the same time.
The connection with this place, which everyone comes to visit, changes everything. I think that if I were still in São Paulo, much of what I was doing would remain the same. For example, the paintings I’ve developed here—both the technique and the style I’ve been exploring in the past few months—only came to be because of this experience.
The same goes for the tricks I’ve managed to pull off in spots I never thought I could skate. Barcelona has a special magic, something unique that transforms everything.
You can find more about her and her work on Instagram: @gabirinja @rinjaverso Photos by @ yalla_______h & @ __casoperdido .
