Fresh water also revolts

Ebó-installation, 2020

Embroidery submerged in raw jute, mirror and sugar cane, bed water and soil from the banks of the São Francisco River  and assorted materials

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A settlement like Osùn, on a burlap blanket I embroidered the phrase Sweet water also revolts.  I use earth tones in reference to the period when the rivers are full, when the waters become cloudy. The earth is at a party mixing with the water. I love to see muddy water.

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Arcado Pestle is drowned territory. Where I come from, the sliding waters washed away and kept memories in their mysteries, deep. Calm waters, at other times, revolts like whirlpools at the foot of the rocks.

With the construction of the Sobradinho dam, during the period of military dictatorship in Brazil, thousands of families lost their homes and their stories. Our memories. Our identities.

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How to rebuild them? Part of this history was covered in reinforced concrete, another part was silenced by coloniality.

The work is an Ebó to the waters – to the rivers – and to the sacred territory where cultivation, votive food and sacred leaves come from, which heal and kill according to need.

To find the end of time,  the waters shall till the earth and justice shall be done!

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They say the Pylon goes away

The time has come, to withdraw us

Oh I miss my little ranch, it's going to be Yemanjá's address...

To the moon we will not go,

It doesn't work for Mars either.

We stay here on earth, asking God to help us (...)

They say that after leaving,

Will be destroyed, all construction...

Oh what sadness, my soul cries, I love my old pestle so much

We'll be there soon,

Living in another home,

But we will never forget our history here in this place(...)

To the moon we will not go,

It doesn't work for Mars either.

Let's stay here on earth, asking God to help us

Let's stay here on earth, asking God to help us (...)

(Joseph from France)

The settlement was built on a boat that crosses the cities of Juazeiro-Ba and Petrolina-Pe.

It was part of the floating show, 2020, "Before everything turns to ashes" in the programming of Aldeia do Velho Chico.

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Photos: Personal collection

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