Letters Square Roundabout, Manaus, Brazil Aug 9, 2025

Amid the fast-paced traffic of Manaus, in Amazonas, Brazil, there"s a point where meaning dissolves. Seen from above, the image appears to show a roundabout like any other. But in its centre rests an unusual sculpture: gigantic steel letters intertwined in a knot. Created by artist Sérgio Cardoso in 2003, the work arrived before the roundabout itself—traffic circled around it before any road planning. Made of stainless steel and about 4 metres tall, its original name, "Diálogo," never stuck. For residents, it was always "Bola das Letras." And so, it remained: a spontaneous nickname, a reference that slipped out of control and became part of the urban landscape. Today, few remember the official title—or even the name of the roundabout.

© Cristian Lourenço/Getty Images

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