LARGO DAS ARTES: DAY 39

Today I had LargoLab meeting as first feedback for the new acoustic installation with Felippe Moraes, Ricardo Castro, and Frado Monteiro, the sound designer. It was a great session where I had the opportunity to define my next strategy, define the direction of my research and clarify all the points I need in order to progress. It is an overwhelming project that need time to get a good result. So I am immersing myself into the research of seeds and spices, Amazonian universe, Indios and Brazilians culture, sounds, rhythm, vibrations... Researching it is a very important phase of my work. 

Ricardo Castro did a panoramic of his artwork. I found it very interesting and very much in tune with what I am doing for my acoustic installation; we discover that both of us are investigating on vibrations...

I started my research in the bookshop downstairs where I bought three Historia Biblioteca National's magazines talking about Amazonia, Indios and sacred and pagan rituals in Brazil. 

Then I went to the Real Gabinete Portuguese de Letura in that amazing public library I went to photograph weeks ago. It was an overwhelming experience, waiting 10 minutes sitting in an allocated chair for the man to arrive with a minuscule volume called 'A Amazonia como Organismo Harmonico' by Hans Bluntschili, 1962. I couldn't take any photos of the script, just sitting in the semi dark room and writing in my diary all important notes/concepts as part of a little treasure. 

After lunch at Tempeh vegan restaurant I, Frederico Pellachin and Ricardo Castro went into a coffe bar/restaurant called Safran. I ordered a very nice 'Budino', a dessert made with crema du leite, served by Manoel Antonio Alves while my friends two ristretto each.

Back to the studio I asked Frederico to make a call for me to the Museum do Indio to book an appointment so to be able to research in their archival. In order to do so I need to write tonight a synopsis of my project so to make sure I am a committed Indio researcher. At Frederico's studio I was impressed by the photographer Murrillo Meirelles trying to catalogue 20 years of work spread in one table! Amazing! He is trying to order his polaroids so he can publish a book....

LARGO DAS ARTES: DAY 38

Yesterday night I went out to an opening show called Finca at Amarelo Negro's gallery of a conceptual artist called Ze' Carlo Garcia. The gallery was quite a small one and the two strong sculptures were standing out for their powerful meaning. The artist's investigation was based on dualities such as victory and defeat, danger and playfulness. Two pointed swards sculptures; one reminding a flag of defeated horse and the other ending with a gold point reminding a awl rolling around its axes. It was a nice gathering meeting the artist with all Largo das Artes team including Consuelo Bassanesi, Pablo Ferretti (photo n. 3) with their 4 years old daughter Agnes (photo n. 2/3) and Frederico Pellachin.

Today it was a shopping and serendipity day. I bought a new Corcovado umbrella that in Portuguese is said  guarda-chuva from Raphael, a new pair of Havanas from Marta and Rosi, a new travel bag from Ana for going to Sao Paulo and Paraty at the end of the month and an amazing handcraft drum's collection. 

The serendipity is having met Chin - the artist, Paulo and Roger - his assistants, making these musical instruments made with beers and coca/fanta's cans. Doing an acoustic installation it opens the door to real carioca's people, no matter if they are poor or drunk they are special one to me. Once at my studio my drum collection looked great!

Than back to work and meet Frado Monteiro (photo n.1/2/3) once again to test the sounds so tomorrow we can have some samples to show during Digi Lab. The acoustic installation artist Anton Steenbock (photo n.2) popped in to see our progression and a new artist arrived today Ricardo Castro welcomed by Consuelo Bassanesi (both photo n.4). Ricardo will open his show on the same day of mine installation's opening on the 16 April! 

The other serendipity story is when I went to collect the last woofer left to repair.

Samuel wanted to give me one without the hanging holes. When I was insisting on having the holes a box dropped down from the shelf which image was of a woofer shape with the holes! Samuel was impressed by it and he couldn't disappoint me posing with his usual outlook! 

LARGO DAS ARTES: DAY 37

Pororoca acoustic installation is progressing day by day and I have a feeling it will be a good work because born in collaboration with more than one person. The first think I wanted to work today was the hanging system. When I unpacked the black roll's cord I realised it was different from the sample I had with me so I returned to Artel Ferragen shop to make the swop! No problem, Paulinho Gomes (photo n. 1) measured meter by meters 200 meters of the right cord while Jefferson (photo n. 2) and Paulo (photo n. 3) found for me an empty carton to roll the rope.

Back to Largo das Artes I started to experiment the way how to pass the cord across the beam positioned 410 cm far from the floor. I realised I needed only 2 threads and not 4 ones as I have planned before, it looked much cleaner and less messy. I had to climb 10 ladder's steps.. a big challenge for me that I suffer from vertigo! The spice anice star has a great scent, love it!

Beside my studio space there is a new local artist renting the studio. Her name is Lilian Soares and she gave me a lesson on how to use helio to fill up the baloon. I love it seen the baloon floating into the space!

For lunch me, Frederico Pellachin and another local artist Vagner donasc went to a vegan restaurant called Tempeh. It was very nice above all the juices and the soup called Sopa Batata Boroa!!!