Exhibition brings together his most important woodcuts and eight unpublished ones with matrices, in addition to housing cordel literature, a biopic and works of his apprentice children.
The SESI Sao Jose do Rio Preto presents the exhibition J. Borges – The Master of Woodcutting, in the period of 30 from June to 9 September, with free access. The popular imagery of the Northeast is present in symbols and figures carved by the artist, currently, with 87 years.
Curated by Angelo Filizola, The exhibition features a collection of 44 woodcuts, eight of them unpublished (with their respective matrices), next to 28 most important works of J's career. Borges. The themes portrayed symbolize the artist's life trajectory, considered by the playwright Ariano Suassuna as the “best popular engraver in Brazil”.
Visitors will appreciate works from different phases of its history, identified by themes: Business and Work Travel, Field Services, cotton planting, northeastern forró, Cane Planting, Caruaru Fair, Carnival in Pernambuco and Festa dos Apaixonados. Popular poetry also has its place in the exhibition.: a space dedicated especially to cordel literature. Cordelist for more than 50 years, J's verses. Borges deal with the daily life of the agreste, of political events, of legendary facts, of folkloric and picturesque life.
“I am very happy with this exhibition about my work in woodcut. And I still want to live long, and what inspires me is life, is the continuation, is the movement. My work is what I see, what I feel”, comments J. Borges, which is the living heritage of Pernambuco, title granted by the state. Borges has already exhibited in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, USA, Venezuela and Cuba, taught in France and the USA, illustrated books in several countries and was featured in The New York Times.
The exhibition J. Borges – The Master of Woodcutting it also brings two works signed by Pablo Borges and Bacaro Borges, artist's children and apprentices, in addition to the exhibition of a biopic about the life and work of Borges, signed by journalist Eduardo Homem.
J. Borges draws directly on wood, balancing full and empty with mastery, without sketch production, studies or drafts. The title is the motto to create the drawing, where the cordel narratives have space in the expressive image of the engraving. The background of the matrix is carved around the figure that receives ink application, resulting in a white background and the image printed in color. Woodcuts are not rigorously concerned with perspective or proportion..
the originality, irreverence and imaginary characters are notable in his works. The most recurrent themes in his repertoire are the simple daily life of the countryside, the cangaço, love, the punishments of heaven, the mysteries, the miracles, crimes and corruption, the fun, religiousness, mischievously, finally, the rich cultural universe of the northeastern people.
The Culture Manager of Sesi-SP, Debora Viana, reinforces the importance of this exhibition as part of the circuit of itinerant exhibitions at Espaços Galerias. "As an initiative, starting in Campinas, We reinforce the institution's commitment to promoting the cultural and artistic scene through public access to works, to the creative process of national and international artists, reflection and experimentation. for Sesi-SP, it is extremely important to form new audiences in the arts, free dissemination and access to culture. That is why we develop and carry out projects in the most diverse areas and invite the public to dive headlong into the universe of knowledge and art.”, declared.
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Woodcutting Workshop – In the days 23 and 24 of June, Woodcutter Pablo Borges gives free workshops at SESI Campinas, intended for people older than 16 years. Information about schedules and registration form will be released in due course..
Produced and idealized by Cactus Promoções e Produções, the exhibition J. Borges – The Master of Woodcutting will proceed to the SESI units in São José do Rio Preto and Itapetininga, still in 2023.
Service:
Exhibition: J. Borges – The Master of Woodcutting
Season: 30 june to 9 September 2023
Time: Tuesday to Saturday – from 9:00 to 8:00 pm, except holidays.
visitation free. Rating: Free.
Accessibility: works with audio description.
School and group scheduling: carla.carvalho@sesisp.org.br – Tuesday to Friday (9h to 11 am and 3 pm to 5 pm).
SESI Sao Jose do Rio Preto
Jorge Duprat Figueiredo Activity Center
Av. Duque de Caxias, 4656 – Vila Elvira. São José do Rio Preto / SP.
Tel: (17) 3224-6611 | riopreto.sesisp.org.br | @sesisiriopreto
J. Borges (Biography)
J. Borges (Jose Francisco Borges, 1935, in Bezerros/PE) he is one of the masters of the string, one of the most celebrated folk artists in Latin America and the most recognized Brazilian woodcutter in the world. Created figures from popular stories and legends, that impregnate the spirit of the northeastern mestizo. Began to 20 years in cordel writing with The Meeting of Two Cowboys in the Sertão de Petrolina. Master Dila, from Caruaru, illustrated. He sold more than five thousand copies in two months and decided to produce his own engravings for the second cordel.: The True Warning of Friar Damião. On the cover, a little church (carved the first engraving on a piece of wood). Friends began to order illustrations and matrices. Autodidact (self taught), Borges illustrated more than 200 cords throughout life. He sold the prints at the Caruaru fair, when a group of tourists commented that they 'loved woodcuts', went to investigate the term and discovered a woodcutter. It was discovered by collectors and dealers, who provided his meeting with Ariano Suassuna who claimed to be Borges the best in the world. Gained notoriety and was taken to academic circles. The artist increased the size of the engravings, and what initially produced only in black, started coloring with a technique that he himself invented. Among all your woodcuts, your favorite is The Arrival of the Whore in Heaven (1976).
Participated in exhibitions in France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Venezuela and Cuba. Landed in more than 10 countries, taught in France and the USA. Illustrated books in Brazil, in France, in Portugal, in Switzerland and the United States. Has several published works, many awards and distinctions: Pro-Memory Foundation (Brasilia, 1984), Joaquim Nabuco Foundation (Recife, 1990), V Salvador Valero International Biennial (Trujilo/Venezuela, 1995), Order of Cultural Merit (Ministry of Culture, 1999) and Unesco Prize – Educational/Cultural Action. In 2002, was one of 13 artists chosen to illustrate the annual calendar of the United Nations, with engraving Life in the Forest. In 1992, exhibited at Stähli Gallery, in Zurich, Switzerland, and the Santa Fe Museum of Popular Art, New Mexico. In 2006, was the subject of a report in The New York Times and received the title of Living Heritage of Pernambuco, which guarantees lifetime support to safeguard and transmit your art. Among all your woodcuts, your favorite is The Arrival of the Whore in Heaven (1976).
