Elemaria Cabral Artist Statement
In an instant my world went from black and white to being a powerful orgy of colour, sound and movement. I now realize how influential that going to see my first Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro was, when I was six years old. This more than anything else, led me to become an artist.
It is life as a whole that drives me. Art to me is just the same as breathing - I can’t live without it and therefore it is virtually an addiction which must be fed again and again. I assume there is an inability to verbally communicate with others and thus this must be done visually. As well, there are also excessive limitations in expressing what is both perceived and felt. These limits lead me to a silence and the dilemma of how to communicate with the viewer - the verbal is not happening, and cannot, so the visual must speak.
| When I start to paint, I do not usually know what I am going to do - there is no conscious plan or desired result - my paintings evolve as I do them. The creative process stems from a stillness which manifests itself, obtains drive and then takes control. From the preparation stage to execution is like a variety of drunkenness.
Although some artists consciously work with form, I never do this as I see form as something that belongs in the eyes of the viewers and that, in a painting, they go towards its movements - paintings are not static and they express themselves differently each time they are looked at. I want to drive viewers to an imaginary contemplative state, to give them a second wind. |
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To produce work like this does not involve a day to day discipline, or any conscious decision, but from being at that point of stillness. I can be inspired at any time of the day but this is not necessarily when the creative process takes over, and I do not adhere to the dogma of "I must do this, I must do that"
My work is about today, tomorrow, and the days that we all remember, but would rather forget. I speak to a global audience; I seek to shift silence to fluency, and even to surprise those who do contemplate.
I do not insist that my art is of, or about something, it merely exists. It is what you make of it.
Acknowledgments:
Joanne Clarke – Photographer / Agent
TIMELINE
1955 Born – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1975 Graduated from Teachers College, Escola Normal Julia Kubitschek
1976 – 1979 Studied Psychology, University Gama Fihlo, Rio de Janeiro
1979 – 1981 Model for artist Carlos Leão
1981 Designed & manufactured handbags with sister, Leila Cabral
1981 Silk screen assistant for artist Carlos Liuzzo
1982 Black silk screen work with photographer Antonio Caetano
1982 - May Moved to Auckland, New Zealand
1983 – 1991 Established The Mexican Café, Auckland. Restaurant interior designer
1993 Ceramic art course with Sarah McKenny, Outreach, Ponsonby, Auckland
1994 Group exhibition, Outreach - Texan Art School Gallery, K.Rd Ak. Commemorative to Frida Kahlo
1994 - 1995 Modern art course with Allie Eagle, Outreach, Ponsonby, Ak
1995 Group exhibition, Outreach, Ponsonby, Ak
1999 - April Solo exhibition in Artist’s studio, Baddeleys Beach, Warkworth
1999 - Dec Moved to Brazil with family. Works with pastels
2000 Group exhibition, La Grenouille, Santa Cruz Cabralia, Bahia, Brazil
2000 Group exhibition, Centro de Convenção, Porto Seguro Bahia
2000 Moved back to New Zealand with family
2001 Solo exhibition, Pastel works, Mexican Café, Auckland, New Zealand
2002 Poster design for The Mexican Café
2003 – 2004 Works with oils
2005 – May-June Established The Mexican Café, Christchurch. Painted mural for The Mexican Café, Christchurch
2005 – Oct-Nov Worked with Tita (Cecile Bourret) on textile paintings
2006 – 2007 Produced a series of textile paintings under pseudonym – Kriska, Brazil
2008 - Current Artist-in-residence, Onehunga Community House, Auckland
2010 - Feb Solo exhibition, New Works-Textile Paintings - Dalliance series, Onehunga community House, Auckland.
2010 – July Promo video piece uploaded to Pass It On - Kea Initiative
2010 – 21 Aug Dalliance series, Kai to Pie, World on your Plate: Brazilian event, Auckland Museum.
2010 – 18 Sept Dalliance series, Capoeira Celebration. Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington
2010 – Sept Work installed at the Brazilian Embassy, 10 Brandon St, Wellington
2010 – Sept Work installed - Estadio Bar, 17 Blair St, Wellington, LIVE Brazil Festival 14 – 17 October
Public Collections / Permanent Exhibition
Auckland City Council – Onehunga Community Centre, 83 Church St, Onehunga, Auckland - Gift
Onehunga Community House – 83 Selwyn St, Onehunga, Auckland – Gift
Embassy of Brazil, Level 9, Deloitte House, 10 Brandon Street – On loan
