Category: Arts & Culture
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Ancient Rock Engravings Found in the Amazon River
A severe drought in the Amazon River has exposed ancient rock engravings that had been submerged for centuries. The engravings, depicting human faces and other figures, are estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old. The engravings were discovered at a site known as Ponto das Lajes, on the Rio Negro, one of the…
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The Eternal Poetry of Celso Adolfo
The singer and songwriter from Minas Gerais, Celso Adolfo, has a new musical work out. On the date that marks his 40 years of a successful career that began in 1983 with the release of the album “Coração brasileiro,” produced by Milton Nascimento. The artist wants a celebration with his new album “Pratiano,” which comes…
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Halloween Shines a Light on Brazilian Folklore
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Brazilians are celebrating Halloween more than ever. Although the tradition has never been part of Brazilian culture, in recent decades there has been a sort of “cultural embedding” of Halloween in Brazil. On October 31, children go to school dressed in spooky costumes, adults throw macabre-themed parties, and neighbors hand out candy. The Brazilian population…
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The Head Collector: A New Book by Ana Matsusaki
Brazilian author and illustrator Ana Matsusaki visited the United States in October to launch her book “The Head Collector,” translated from Portuguese by Bruna Dantas Lobato. The book explores the delicate and complex cultural aspects of death. Official synopses say: There are all kinds of collections in this world… serious, funny, strange. Imagination knows no…
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Rio is the First Portuguese-Speaking City Chosen by UNESCO as World Book Capital
The title of World Book Capital is awarded annually by UNESCO to a city that has demonstrated excellence in its activities to promote reading. The city of Rio de Janeiro was selected for the title in 2023, becoming the first Portuguese-speaking city to receive the honor. The city will assume this role starting April 23,…
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“Pictures of Ghosts” will represent Brazil at the Oscars
The Brazilian Academy of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts announced the film “Pictures of Ghosts” (“Retratos Fantasmas”), by Kleber Mendonça Filho, as Brazil’s representative in the race for a spot in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2024 Academy Awards.The film competed against five others, which had been selected from 28 Brazilian productions. “It…
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Healing Leaves: The Myth of Orisha Ossanhe by Luzia Castaneda
“The work began in the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 2020. I was painting and a leaf fell onto my watercolor – it was a calling. Throughout the following year, I explored different forests in the U.S. and Brazil, searching for leaves that could create a wonderful beauty over my watercolor, and then…
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“O Arado Torto”: The New Book by Itamar Vieira Junior
Acclaimed as the most important Brazilian novel of the century so far, this best-seller’s unique blend of magic and social realism has earned it three literary awards and global acclaim. ‘I heard our grandmother asking what we were doing. “Say something!”, she demanded, threatening to rip our tongues out. Little did she know that one…
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Witches of the Past, Present, and Halloween
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Today seen as a symbol of evil and represented by frightening images, these women were once considered guardians of life and death, playing an essential role in European peasant communities during the Middle Ages. Witch. What image comes to your mind when you read that word? It is not uncommon to imagine the witch as…
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Las Vegas Inaugurates Impressive Sphere with U2 Show
For several years, a mysterious spherical structure has been under construction in Las Vegas. This summer, the public saw giant LED screens transform it into a planet, a basketball, and even a blinking eye. Last weekend, the public finally got to discover what lies inside the sphere. Sphere, the $2.3 billion venture touted as the…