Based on the theme of Nature of Brazil, an exhibition by Raymond Pascoal Pereira, ‘Illustrative Impressions of Brazil is on at the recently inaugurated Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa at Casa Sodovim in Verna
Marking the opening of the Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa, the exhibition, Illustrative Impressions of Brazil by Raymond Pereira that was inaugurated on the same day at Casa Sodovim at Verna is based on the theme Natureza Brasil (Nature of Brazil). Divided into three parts the exhibition depicts the natural beauty of Brazil through the series of illustrations on the theme. It includes the major flora and fauna, the national flower and animal too.
“Using a variety of techniques like line drawings, soft pastels, inks and water color on paper and on canvas, the illustrations are of Cattleya Labiata, the scarlet macaw, a blue-and-yellow macaw, the jaguar, to co toucan, yellow-banded poison dart frog, the heliconias flowers etc,” states Raymond.
Displayed in the courtyard of the cultural centre is the second part of the exhibition which is a wall mural and graffiti. The mural also depicts the natural beauty of Brazil. The technique and medium used is here is very different from that of the illustrations. The artist has used acrylic emulsions to bring forth the rich natural heritage of the land. The graffiti is about the city Rio de Janeiro. It showcases the major landmarks of the city.
Raymond has displayed his recent works in the medium of print making in part III of the exhibition which are displayed in another hall. “This has been my subject of mastery. The works are executed in the medium/techniques of woodcut, etching and lithography,” briefs Raymond who has been preoccupied in unfolding the mysteries behind the ‘masked- self’.
“The themes in my recent works are based on the idea of mask as a metaphor for deceptive projection of reality and illusion. Behind the masked appearances unfolds the drama of inner reality of moral and ethical conflicts; of power and subjugation; of human suppressions and lustful sins. Barbed wires, the forbidden fruit, slithering reptiles and monstrous creatures inhabit the infinite spaces of his pictorial creations resulting into a symbolic construct in his work; his imagery brimming with a physical and emotional violence,” explains Raymond.
Through his work, Raymond attempts to express his anguish of alarming dangers engulfing the human life by perpetuation of communal violence and political maneuvers. He envisages an apocalyptical dread! And it is as though in a bid to reconcile such tormenting ideas of destruction and annihilation, he fancies a contemplative stroll of a ‘Garuda’ - the wise one, in the dark woods faintly lit by a crescent moon in the sky.
(‘Illustrative Impressions of Brazil’ will be displayed until March 25 at Casa Sodovim (Verna) that houses the recently inaugurated Brazilian Cultural Centre in Goa)
