Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
Offering (Ebó) to the world
Ayrson Heráclito and Joceval Santos, artists as well as Candomblé priests, perform a great ebbó, a ceremonial “cleansing” of the world carefully prepared according to the Yoruba traditions of Brazil.
Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
What is the "hottest" contemporary theme nowadays?
Undoubtedly the environmental issue that is related to several other themes on world tensions.
Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
How artistic practice can actively influence these issues?
Art plays a decisive role in the transformations of the symbolic universe in the world. When creative forms of activism are activated, we are producing changes and ways of dealing with fundamental issues for humanity.
Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
How was it to confront with other artists in Hot Spot?
Extremely enriching, a variety of coping tactics and struggles to try to save nature.
Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
What do you think is the main visitors' feeling in Hot Spot?
I believe that the main sensation is to encourage the public to carry out possible gags, engagements in their daily practices in relation to environmental struggles.
Image from the performance of "Bori" by Ayrson HeráclitoPinacoteca de São Paulo
Choose a claim for an aesthetic activism manifesto
My activism has always been mythic political-aesthetic. That is why we must consider that the world is spiritually sick and urgently needs ecological healing technologies.
Interview by Giulia Lotti. The images from the performance "Bori" (2008-2022) are courtesy of the artist and Pinacoteca de São Paulo.
