Auto do Círio: The profane and the sacred in spectacularized photography
This photographic exhibition aims to portray the religious procession “Auto do Círio”. Through the images, it is possible to understand the memories of the city of Belém, in Pará.
By Virtual Museum of Lusophony
Tais Morena
Celebration (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The “Círio de Nazaré” is a religious festivity that takes place in the city of Belém, in Pará, northern Brazil. Honoring the figure of Our Lady of Nazaré, this festivity occurs every year on the second Sunday of the month of October.
The artists and the community share the stage during this day, bonded by the theme of the procession and by the cultural dynamics of the city.
In the form of a religious procession, a group of artists perform and celebrate through the streets of Belém’s oldest neighborhood.
Through theater, music and dance, the procession merges elements from the divine and sacred, to the profane and carnivalized. This way, it is possible to achieve a cultural, religious and artistic diversity.
These photographs were taken during 2017 in Belém do Pará. For the first time, the photographer had the experience of not being a participating artist, but a spectator artist.
However, the photographer chose to assume an inside out gaze; that is, she aimed to get the perspective of how the artists see themselves on stage.
Prayer (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Prayer
Prayer
Hail to the Queen of the Sea (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Hail to the Queen of the Sea
Hail to the Queen of the Sea
The Son of Faith (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Son of Faith
Son of Faith
Sacred Heart of Hunger (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Sacred Heart of Hunger
Sacred Heart of Hunger
La Catrina (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
La Catrina
La Catrina
The Cure (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
The Cure
The Cure
Redemption (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Redemption
God of Peace (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
God of Peace
God of Peace
Freshwater Dolphin (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Freshwater Dolphin
Freshwater Dolphin
Por los Vivos y los Muertos (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Por los Vivos y los Muertos
Por los Vivos y los Muertos
Por los Vivos y los Muertos
Give Hand to the Penitents (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Give Hand to the Penitents
Give Hand to the Penitents
Guardian of the Amazon (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Guardian of the Amazon
Guardian of the Amazon
Long Live Our Lady of Nazareth (21th Century) by Tais MorenaVirtual Museum of Lusophony
Long Live Our Lady of Nazareth
Long Live Our Lady of Nazareth
References
- Brígida, M. S. (2008). "O auto do Círio: Festa, fé e espetacularidade" In: Textos escolhidos de cultura e arte populares, 5(1), pp. 35-48.
- Jurandir, D. (1960). Belém do Grão-Pará. Martins Fontes.
- Moraes Filho, M. (1982). Festas e tradições populares no Brasil. EDUSP.
Others
- Interview with Tarik Coelho, Chief Executive of the parade Auto do Círio.
