calimba (kalimba), 2015
brazilian newspaper headlines etched with laser and fire on wood
30 x 260 x 1 cm (30 x 50 x 1 cm each - total 5 pecies)
photo Mario Grisolli

Photographs showing bodies of African Americans hanged by a white population were commonplace during the 1910s and 1920s in the United States. Shown as trophies, these bodies set up true monuments that exalted white supremacy. Nevertheless, they were displayed in postcards with the naturalness of a landscape worthy of exaltation. In Brazil, cases like these were not commonly publicized, because during this period the image that was intended to be built of the country was that of a mestizo society that experienced the fullness of a racial democracy.

After more than 100 years, and after several revolts and demonstrations, these practices are still part of the daily life of the “American” countries. In both Brazil and the United States of America, violence against African American populations takes on sharper contours each year.

Composed of 5 sets of 5 wooden plates with laser engravings and fire from Brazilian newspaper headlines (between the years of 2012 and 2016), the series of works entitled “Calimba” shows how contemporary violence against African-American bodies is directly linked with the practices of colonial violence, such as: public lynchings, imprisonment in public posts and squares, among others.

calimba #1, 2016
brazilian newspaper headlines etched with laser and fire on wood
30 x 260 x 4 cm (30 x 50 x 4 cm each - total 5 pecies)
photo Filipe Berndt

calimba #2, 2016
brazilian newspaper headlines etched with laser and fire on wood
30 x 260 x 4 cm (30 x 50 x 4 cm each - total 5 pecies)
foto Filipe Berndt

calimba #3, 2016
brazilian newspaper headlines etched with laser and fire on wood
30 x 260 x 4 cm (30 x 50 x 4 cm each - total 5 pecies)
photo Filipe Berndt

calimba #4, 2016
brazilian newspaper headlines etched with laser and fire on wood
30 x 260 x 4 cm (30 x 50 x 4 cm each - total 5 pecies)
photo Filipe Berndt