Cabulosa is a font that emerged from the depths of a Brazilian ghetto. It's a typeface heavily influenced by the urban calligraphy style of so-called “Pixo-reto”. Read more about Cabulosa from our friend and active member of the art community in Porto Alegre, Ana Ferraz below.
Originating from Runic or Blackletter, or whatever you want to trace it to, it is a unique style that undoubtedly developed first in São Paulo. It took over most capitals by assault, subsequently breeding local deviations. Nowadays it covers most of the metropolitan facades in Brazil and is a considerable part of the city mesh.
Cabulosa is reflective of the city. It is a synthesis and not a transcription, so that a certain vernacular can not grip too tightly to it. In certain ways it is more Bauhaus than ghetto. And that's why it can be used in 'techy' environments as well. Even though it has lots of character, it certainly appears neutral if put in a certain way, in the right context.
It was created by Frederico Antunes, a graphic designer and typographer from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Chiba Chiba (as he is also known) works with many type/art related projects, including a set of typographic posters for MTV, the design of each issue of Vista Skateboard Art magazine and, along with Fabio Zimbres, the design of the Transfer Catalog (that was reviewed in Juxtapoz #102).
