The Purge of Denialism
The Purge of Denialism stems from my fascination of Brazilian folklore. The creatures that lurked in the rainforest found their way into my life as cautionary tales of morality, even in my somewhat removed urban reality in Rio de Janeiro. The work is an ongoing series where I explore folklore characters in a modern context through quilts made out of cangas, which are typical Brazilian beach towels.
The myth of Mãe Iara (Mother Iara) tells the tale of a siren that is said to lure men, especially those who are greedy and selfish, into the riverbed towards their death. This tale has always stood out to me as empowering - Iara became a personal symbol of strength and justice. The quilt depicts the siren defeating former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who championed the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest during his presidency. This work is not only a political statement but also an expression of my frustrations with the former government, and their mishandling of Brazil’s beautiful and diverse flora and fauna.
The Purge of Denialism - Mãe Iara defeats Bolsonaro, 2023 Quilt made out of cangas (Brazilian beach towel), 59 x 42.5in
The Purge of Denialism details
The Purge of Denialism details
The Purge of Denialism details
The Purge of Denialism details
The tale of Boitatá tells the story of a fiery snake that acts as a protector of the Amazon against illegal miners and loggers. In The Purge of Denialism II, Boitatá snatches Ricardo Salles away. Salles was the former Minister of the Environment in Bolsonaro’s government; he is infamously known for his proposal to loosen environmental laws (“passar a boiada”) in 2020, while the media was occupied with the pandemic. In this quilt, Boitatá avenges the destruction of the Amazon that happened under Bolsonaro’s leadership.
The Purge of Denialism II - Boitatá avenges Salles’ Boiadas, 2024 Quilt made out of screenprinted cangas
