In a place that is not just territory, but inhabits and is inhabited by it, the sertão manifests itself in the middle of the crossing, or “within us”, as written by Guimarães Rosa.
And Cezar Félix, an avid reader of Rosa, crosses the savanna of Minas Gerais enchanted by the narrow veredas – the oasis of sertão –, green corners and the song of canindé macaws;
guiding us through the photographs that both reveal paths and invite us to see them closer, an invitation to contemplation.
From very close, the birth of a river that crosses hundreds of municipalities can be seen. Opará, Parapitinga, Velho Chico or São Francisco; the nearly three thousand kilometers of its watercourse start flanked by wet and rocky fields.
Other waters fall from so high that seeing from afar helps to sense their immensity. Living up to its name are the sempre-vivas [always alive], shiny floating in any season of the year.
One also sees, on these paths that never end, who walked through them. With no end or beginning, the journey takes place halfway, without an understanding of time, in a require of turns, returns, and pauses.
Board Waterfall (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
It is necessary to get lost and, when you least expect it, the sertão crosses you.
Source of San Francisco River (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
Source of São Francisco, in Serra da Canastra, river that runs 2,700 km through Brazil until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
Typical flowers of the Cerrado (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
The “sempre-vivas”, typical flowers of the Cerrado, in the Serra do Cabral State Park, central region of the state.
Humble House (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
The humble house, built with clay bricks about 100 years ago, located in the central region of Minas Gerais.
Sertão Cowboy (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
Sertão cowboy sitting on a structure of a “car” that is moved by oxen.
São Francisco River (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
The São Francisco River crosses the sertão, in the central region of the state.
Basilica of São Geraldo (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
Interior of the Basilica of São Geraldo, in Curvelo, one of the main cities in the hinterland of Minas Gerais.
Nossa Senhora da Piedade (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
Sculpture of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, in Baroque style (1783), by Aleijadinho. It is located in the sanctuary of Felixlândia, in the middle of the hinterland.
Vereda (2022-10-01) by Cézar FelixMM Gerdau - Museu das Minas e do Metal
Image of a Vereda, which is considered the “oasis” of sertão, as it guarantees moisture even in severe drought.
Wide wild fields, the Savanna in Minas Gerais
Photographs: Cézar Felix
Realization: Sagarana Magazine
Management: Através Gestão Cultural
Sponsorship: Gerdau
Support: MM Gerdau - Museum of Mines and Metal
Photography: Cezar Felix
Curator: Maria Vaz
Production: Cyro Almeida
Text: Maria Vaz
Translation: Maria Vaz
Expographic Design: Maria Vaz and Cyro Almeida
Scenography and Editing: José Geraldo Martins
Lighting Design: Taís Trujillo Maldonado
Lighting: Claudio Roberto da Silva
Image Treatment and Editing: André Sena
Photo printing: Artmosphere Fine Art
Frames: Van Gogh