The Pontal Museum in Rio de Janeiro is hosting “O Sol do Sertão (The Hinterland Sun),” a retrospective of Brazilian reputed woodcut master J. Borges. This unprecedented exhibition showcases his entire career, featuring works from both private and public collections.
According to Lucas Van de Beuque, the curator and executive director of the exhibition, the museum has conducted extensive research into the 88-year-old artist’s holdings and collections across Brazil. “We aim to present the public with his entire journey, from his early cordel literature studies to his latest works, such as the Holy Family, gifted to Pope Francis last year by President Lula, representing Brazilian popular art, and O Coração na Mão (Heart in Hand), a recent and highly acclaimed piece,” Van de Beuque told Agência Brasil.
The curator highlighted that J.Borges stands among Brazil’s foremost living artists today. “His works are showcased from the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, to various museums across Brazil and private collections. His exhibitions span the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Venezuela, and Cuba, reflecting a distinguished career.”
Artist and poet José Francisco Borges was born in 1935 in the village of Bezerros, Pernambuco state, in Northeastern Brazil. Borges was Brazil’s best-known folk artist working in the wood-cut medium, and his work has been exhibited all over the world. But he came out of a long tradition of folk poet/artists who publish their own work in the form of small (generally about 6″ by 9″) cheap chap-books or pamphlets written in verse, known as folhetos. They are also known as ‘literatura de cordel’ after the way vendors sell them in the marketplace, hanging over a string.
Borges’ work has been exhibited all over Brazil as well as in Paris, Zurich, Buenos Aires and in Germany and the United States. The Louvre, the Smithsonian and the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe have exhibited Borges’ work.
The artist has garnered numerous awards, including the Order of Cultural Merit, a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) award in the Educational/Cultural Action category, and the distinction of Living Heritage of Pernambuco. His artwork has graced book covers by renowned writers like Eduardo Galeano and José Saramago, inspired documentaries, and featured in the parade of the Acadêmicos da Rocinha samba school in 2018.
According to Lucas Van de Beuque, J.Borges is not only attuned to contemporary issues and public interests but also deeply committed to his artistic path and vision. “His dedication to the Northeast, to cordel literature, and the traditional values of the region is profound and intrinsic to him,” Van de Beuque emphasized. “It’s not just a passing interest; it’s a reflection of a strong and enduring way of life.”
Until now, there has never been an exhibition covering J.Borges’ entire career. The curator highlights a pivotal moment: the artist’s first woodcut in 1964, created for the cover of his second cordel literature piece. “It was then that the name ‘J.Borges’ was born, as his full name (José Francisco Borges) wouldn’t fit on the woodcut. This story is also showcased in the exhibition,” he added.
The exhibition occupies a significant part of the Pontal Museum, spanning the main gallery, two mezzanine galleries, the lobby, and a 24-square-meter panel. It features 200 artworks, a mini documentary on the artist’s life and work, a timeline, and a collection of 50 matrices demonstrating the woodcut creation process. The exhibition will run until March 25, 2025.
Fonte: Agência Brasil and Indigo Arts Gallery