Michel França - “Art, oxygen of life ”, by Edmundo Cavalcanti

Edmundo Cavalcanti é Artista Plástico, Colunista de Arte e Poeta. — Edmundo Cavalcanti is a Visual Artist, Art Columnist and Poet.

1- Where did you born? And what is your academic training?

I was born on 02 February 1974 in Rio de Janeiro. I'm literally self-taught.

I studied at the High School of Arts and Crafts, and in the Brazilian Society of Fine Arts, and the UFRY (Fine Art).

2- How and when you give your first contact with the Arts?

I started my passion for drawings, at my two years old. This with the encouragement of my parents. At the age of 12 years old my mother gave me a painting kit, composed of a canvas with oil paint tubes and a brush. This was the best gift I had won!

3- How did you find this gift?

Never found out! I just paint from an early age and never stopped!

Michel França é Artista Plástico. — Michel França is Plastic Artist.

4- What are your main influences?

My main influences are exactly all the artists of the world and of all times. I have always admired all styles, genres and techniques…

I know how to respect each artist on their magnificent path.

5- What materials do you use in your works?

Oil and acrylic fabrics and paints. Patchwork of various fabrics, threads or string. Brushes and pens.

6- What is your creative process itself? What inspires you?

Patchwork work. And it’s exactly the scraps that inspire me!

7- When you started effectively to produce or create your works?

I effectively started producing my first works for 12 years old.

Usually my works were sold or auctioned.

My works were academic and soon, I was surprised to be painting surrealism without realizing it!

Today, I paint the contemporary abstract as a language, to express the feeling of everyone who passes by me.

8- Art is an intellectual production exquisite, where emotions are embedded in the context of creation, but in art history, we see that many artists are derived from other, following technical and artistic movements through time, you own any model or influence of any artist? Who would be?

I've painted many works under the influence of other artists, the biggest one was the Sérgio Martinolli, Volpi and other. But today, I paint under the influence of my own instinct and character.

Something that comes out of my own soul!

9- What does art mean to you? If you were to summarize in a few words the meaning of Arts in your life…

Art is what I breathe… my breath of life! Art and life!

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10- What techniques do you use to express their ideas, feelings and perceptions about the world? (Whether it is through painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, photography… or uses several techniques in order to make a mix of different art forms)

With all the techniques, I present my scraps to express.

11- Every artist has his mentor, that person whom you mirrored that encouraged and inspired you to follow this career you, going ahead and taking your dreams the other expression levels, who this person is and how it introduced you in the art world?

My older sister! Worked in one of the most famous art galleries in Rio de Janeiro. She was my mainstay! The person who most offered me constructive criticism and a lot of artistic sensitivity.

12- You have another activity beyond art? You teaches classes, lectures etc.?

Yes, I give classes and lectures. I worked for 4 years teaching classes to needy children at an institution.

I currently work as an Illustrator of children's books and am a Bus Driver for a Bus Company in the City of Maricá.

13- Its major national and international exhibitions and their awards? (Mention 5 most recent)

I haven't participated in exhibitions for more than 20 years. I went through a long and deep period of depression in my life.

14- Your plans for the future?

Being able to open a space for a beautiful studio, where I can teach a painting class to a senior class.

15- In your opinion what is the future of Brazilian art and its artists? (in the general context) and why so many artists are giving preference to show their work in international exhibitions despite high costs?

Regarding the future of Brazilian artists, I don't usually put a lot of emphasis. The world spins and turns around!

Life has many surprises and obstacles… I can't say that everyone will reach their goals, but, I can say that a small part contemplates its glory.

There are so many rules, and this makes us too boring. So most important of all, it's us brazilian artists, painting without creating expectations. But yes, just work because we love art.