Exhibition “J. Borges – woodcutting expert” arrives in Campinas

The art of woodcutting is ancient, much older than Brazil, and its origin is linked to an ancient Chinese technique. But here, in the Tupiniquim lands, this method of producing images on paper or cloth from a “stamp” brought to the region by the Portuguese is closely associated with Northeast folk culture and its cordial literature. Illustrations were used to form poems written in a common language. Part of this tradition comes to Campinas with the exhibition “Brazil’s Best Folk Talk,” in the words of playwright Ariano Soasuna. The exhibition “J. Borges – Master of Woodcuts” by the artist entitled The Living Heritage of Pernambuco will open to the public next Thursday 13th and will be shown in Sese Amoreras until 24th June. Visits are free.

The show brings together works summarizing the life of J. Borges, now 87 years old. Of the 44 works to be shown in this exhibition, some he has developed for his own 80th anniversary show. He decided to record all the trades he pursued before devoting himself to his art – from carpenter to cane-cane. “My work is what I see, what I feel. And I still want to live for a long time and what inspires me is life, it is continuation, it is movement,” says the artist.

Four more unpublished and specially made to go directly to Campinas. One is an illustration of the Feira de Caruaru, a large and famous fair for handicrafts here. Another depicts sugarcane farming, blending his memories of cutting sugarcane as a teenager with the sugarcane culture of Pernambuco, still very popular today. Strong. It is part of this infinite universe of customs that we have.Another represents the carnival, and here we have the largest in the world.He has photographed parades, rehearsals, babanjos (people whose faces are completely hidden behind masks).He has collected items from all over the state, from our city Bizeros and Recife And Olinda. And the last one brought the theme of the LGBTQIA+ movement, which I helped my dad make and it’s so beautiful,” says Pablo Borges, son of J. One of the pieces on display in the exhibition is signed by the young man who is following in his father’s footsteps as his apprentice.

Northeastern woodcuts reach the world

Woodcuts by J. Borges generally follow step by step. He paints directly on the wood, which is the matrix of the work, and then I carve this base, so that only the drawing is in relief. “We make what would be a stamp,” Pablo explains. Then this wood is sanded and only then painted. The traditional, better known, is black and white, but color graphics have gained a lot of space among the works of artists. “My dad and I still prefer black and white, we think it’s nicer and sharper, but 90% of the orders we get are color drawings.” The exhibition in Campinas will receive both types and all the woodblocks will be shown with their arrays in the wood, indicating the painting process.

J. Burgess has exhibited in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Venezuela, and Cuba, taught in France and the United States, illustrated books in many countries, and even appeared in The New York Times. Despite his travels around the world, the artist always says that he never wanted to leave Beziros, the city where he was born, raised and still lives with his children. “Every day we receive people from all over Brazil and even from other parts of the world here in the studio. Why do we leave here? I usually say that just as Luiz Gonzaga sang in the Northeast, my father painted the Northeast. Popular sayings he heard from people, even dreams that When we leave here for viewing elsewhere, we have a sense of how rich and beautiful our Northeastern culture is,” says Pablo.

New generation and workshop in Campinas

Today, J.’s children and grandchildren follow. Pablo remembers making his first “exelo,” as he calls it, when he was just seven years old. Today, at the age of 29, he is developing his plays following similar themes to his father’s. “His character is more rustic, and mine is more perfect. But my father and I are very close, very friendly. Besides being an artist, he is a wonderful storyteller, so many of my subjects refer to what he tells me about childhood and adolescence.” The youngest of the family, Bacaro Borges (one of his pieces also reached Campinas), has already developed other themes, more technical and futuristic in his design, with more complex features. Whatever the style, the family intends to carry on with the art. “I intend to educate my daughter, if she wants to […]We are continuing the Northeast culture.”

Pablo comes to Campinas to offer a woodcut workshop, also free of charge, at Sesi. Those interested will be able to develop their own woodcuts and everyone will leave the activity with a woodcut and matrix to take home. The artist guarantees that they do not need to know how to draw to participate. “Many people are familiar with painting, but they come to the workshop and see a different reality. Woodcutting does not require a very elaborate design, the line is more rustic, because the more details, the more difficult the woodcarving. Painting. It is he who participates most in the class,” he laughs. the artist. The date of the workshop, however, has not yet been determined. But the activity has been confirmed and the date will be announced soon on Instagram @tweet.

Exhibition “J. Borges – Master of Woodcutting”

When: Opening Thursday, 4/13, at 7:30 PM; Visiting until 06/24, Tuesday through Saturday, 9am-11am and 2pm-8pm, excluding holidays.

Location: Espaço Galeria do Sesi Amoreiras – Av. das Amoreiras, 450, Parque Italia