Oscar Oliveira – “Art, reflection of life", by Edmundo Cavalcanti

Edmundo Cavalcanti is a Visual Artist, Art Columnist and Poet.

Interview

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

Born in Salvador – Bahia, in 23 th November of 1953, 67 years, I'm from Salvador. Academic training: Systems Analysis and Statistical Sciences.

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

early childhood, with my parents who liked and valued the arts in general.

3- How did you find this gift?

Naturally, since childhood I was always dedicated to drawing with pleasure., smart, drum up, disassemble and assemble things, lol.

4- What are your main influences?

I think art came with me in my soul, too early.

Later, when I was more aware of what art was and through readings and research, I came to have the influence of the following masters artists:

Kandinsky; Candido Portinari; Tarsila do Amaral; Caribbean; Salvador Dali; Pablo Picasso; Di Cavalcanti; Israel Pedrosa; Waldo Robatto…

5- What materials do you use in your works?

I use acrylic paint, mainly on screen, when needed charcoal and/or chalk (white and colored) to draw or compose the painting, for this I use acrylic gel medium as a fixative. Depending on I use acrylic wall paint, chalk, liquid plaster, stencil, sometimes acrylic varnish.

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

My creative process occurs with contemplation. From there, reasons arise that challenge me to compose a work of art. The composition is very interesting, the colors and the way of looking.

Details of nature inspire me, urban and marine. Also wake up wanting to turn a canvas or paper into a work of art.

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

At the age of 14 years I started drawing and painting with more frequency and method., but after leaving the CLT, I dedicated myself to produce daily, creating an Atelier and deepening in readings and research and courses.

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?

My influence is mainly the artists I mentioned in the item 4.

I don't consciously own any model., but I may be bringing in some element from another artist that I have observed and that stayed in the subconscious.

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

The art for me it's a reflection of life; it's expression; and beauty; and peace; is manifest; it's learning.

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).

The techniques I use to express my creative ideas are basically through drawing, painting and photography.

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?

In the first place it was my mother who understood me and encouraged my vocation, as well as the art teachers at Dom Bosco College, Manaus Salesiano.

Currently my biggest supporters are my son Daniel and my wife Graciete.

I also want to emphasize the importance of master Waldo Robatto who, in his classes, encouraged me and taught techniques that with them I took a leap in quality in the works I carry out..

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

Currently my dedication is art, since i retired, CLT, after 42 of work in the area of Information Technology and management.

Sometimes I'm part of collective paintings in squares, shopping malls, fairs etc.

13- Its major national and international exhibitions and their awards?

Exhibitions Face-to-face:

Tricenter, Itaigara, Salvador, BA, collective exhibition.

Colorsprasever exhibition, DNA Laboratory cultural center, Salvador BA.
Curator: Luiz Cláudio Campos

First Spring Fair Bahia Marina, Salvador/ BA.
In the Balaio D'Arte space, by Taissa Mendes.
Date: 15/09/2018

Collective exhibition Galeria B Arte, SHOP PARALLEL SHOPPING, Salvador BA.
Curator: Maia boy

Virtual Exhibitions:

Collective exhibition Art without limits, Raphael Art Gallery,
Curator: Edmundo Cavalcanti
Period: 02 to 31/12/2020,

Resilience collective exhibition, Anjos Art Gallery & Raphael Art Galery,
Curator: Maria dos Anjos Oliveira &Edmundo Cavalcanti
Period: 15/12/2020 to 15/01/2021,

Group exhibition São Paulo that I love Anjos Art Gallery & Raphael Art Galery,
Trustees: Maria dos Anjos Oliveira & Edmundo Cavalcanti
Period: 05/ to 28/02/2021,

Events.

painting in the street

Events:

-Salvador Art and Antiques Fair – BA.
Date: 18/10/2017
A canvas created on site together with a group of artists.
ArtWork: Campo Grande screen, tribute to caribbean.

-Horta do Horto Project – av. Valdemar Falcon, Salvador – BA.
Date: 11/11/2017
painting on the sidewalk 90 cm 3 meters, for each artist.

-Salvador Art and Antiques Fair – BA.
Date: 10/12/2017
Screen created on site together with a group of artists.
ArtWork: The Square.

-Art at the Rio Vermelho Salvador Market – BA.
Date: 17/11/2018
Screen created on site together with a group of artists.
ArtWork: Market I.

-Art at the Rio Vermelho Salvador Market – BA.
Date: 05/11/2019
Screen created on site together with a group of artists.
ArtWork: Market II.

14- Your plans for the future?

continue painting, improving the look and my execution.

Promote my art in the various media on the social network.

Participate in virtual exhibitions and as soon as the pandemic allows, I intend to participate in face-to-face exhibitions.

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?

Brazilian art is greatly undervalued, lack of interest on the part of public administrations in promoting any and all types of art., that's why some artists are looking for alternatives such as exhibitions outside our dear country where they are valued.

On the other hand, a big competitor of ours is the technology that helps us so much., but anyone can use it to generate prints on computers, home printers or graphics decorating them on your walls, instead of decorating them with artworks.

The hope is with the artistic class in influencing public policy changes, in addition to works by people like you Edmundo and Maria dos Anjos who are very important to our art.