“Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.”
“A DESCOBERTA CONSISTE EM VER O QUE TODOS VIRAM E PENSAR O QUE NINGUÉM PENSOU”
Albert Szent-Györgyi
The Raposa 1 indigenous community is 240 km away from the capital Boa Vista and it is one of the regional centers of the Raposa – Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory. With less than 1000 inhabitants, the community is mostly formed by Makushi indigenous who live in the drafting area. In different contexts, the community Raposa 1 is a reference, and seeks, in different ways, to stay alive. Making indigenous contextual art was one of the strategies that the community developed to achieve new achievements. The craft, artistic and spiritual activities have always been maintained. Secularly, the community maintains its identity in alternation of flows that pass through identity and autonomy. In recent years, especially after the homologation of the reserve, the community returns to prominence with cultural activities that prioritize ancestral practices and knowledge. In 2017, the community and Swiss artist Viliam Mauritz are introduced. The articulation was from the artist Jaider Esbell, Makushi Indian from the Raposa region. Viliam Mauritz has a global art project called The Giant Steps. The purpose of the Swiss artist is to find in different parts of the world, specific conditions to realize the passage of his giant. The Giant Steps is a daring project in all its proposals and finds in the human realities the greatest chances and the biggest challenges. The artistic performance will be performed for the first time in the Americas, Raposa 1 community and for the third time in the world. Community action will be carried out through partnership with artists Viliam Mauritz and Jaider Esbell on October 6, 7 and 8, 2017. The Raposa community will welcome the artists and their guests to a great collective celebration. Saturday, October 7, will be the greatest moment. The community is mobilized to receive the work of art visually materialize and accompany its process. It is the first time that the community receives an international activity, with global art, showing their place. For the first time the community is involved as a partner in the realization of a work of art with an artist from another country. The visualization of the giant footprint will be possible with the production of films of 3 and 10 minutes. With an extension of more than 100 meters in length, the image of the giant foot can only be perceived from above. Drones will be used to capture aerial images during the day and at night. The images of the day will show makushi indigenous dancing parixara, a collective choreography prepared especially for the occasion. The night scenes will show 39 fires that will be lit at the same time to show off the giant footprint. The community receives guests and tourists during the 3 days with full assistance, security and services. The schedule involves free cultural interaction. Fairs, workshops, hiking in the countryside, leisure in nature and cultural presentations will be held. Artists and community receive other indigenous artists as special guests for the consecration of the collective work of art. Local artists will be invited to celebrate the act as an autonomous achievement of the greater effort of art and endurance. The artist Viliam Mauritz is the owner of the idea. Around the world, the artist’s goal is to build the dialogue to carry out his work, the giant footprint. For the first time in Brazil, the giant footprint will be held in an indigenous community of the Amazon. This feat is loaded with meanings and it is the greatest event, undoubtedly the political capacity of organization of the community and the agency in well presenting proposals of collective art of global reach. It will be a great experience, because the performance is indeed a call to bigger issues. Through art, artists seek to better involve the world in itself. Through the media projection it is possible to better show the map and the arguments. It is the will of the artists Viliam Mauritz and Jaider Esbell to carry out the activity in more locations in the Amazon and in all the Brazilian biomes, before going to other countries. The limitations are always financial because the artists are autonomous and cherish for independence. It is not possible to quantify the good achievements of this achievement. Its impacts will certainly exceed expectations because there is a great interest and agency in the full scope of its purposes. In practice, the making of the giant sculpture in the Raposa 1 community is a historical and enigmatic feat. The way the approach was made, the clear presence of the community at all stages, differentiates this from any previous achievement. On October 6th, 7th and 8th the community offers tour packages for those who want to attend and participate in the program. Further details on how to go can be obtained with Enoch Raposo (95 99130 – 4045 – raposito32@gmail.com). Direct contact with Viliam Mauritz, communication advisory and reports can be made with Jaider Esbell (95 – 99959 – 2025 – es.b@hotmail.com). The artist Viliam Mauritz will be in Roraima from October 2 to 10 and will be received by Jaider Esbell Gallery. The coordination of activities in the community and actions for the tourist can be dealt directly with Enoch Raposo. The overall production and management of the project is by Jaider Esbell and Viliam Mauritz.