Brazilian artist Edson Fernandes chats about his life in São Paulo and shares his thoughts on his art and poetry as well as images of inside his studio. He is also a dancer and choreographer…
Ola e bem-vindo, Edson! And a big welcome to Om Pom Happy. I’m such a great admirer of your work, yet I know very little about you…
Well, I was born in Sao Paulo, but I went to another city still too young. This city is called Uberaba and is in the state of Minas Gerais. I lived in that city until the twenty-five years and then I went to live in other cities. Now I really live in the city of São Paulo and I intend to move out soon.
Your work has such a wonderful quality… almost tactile. I want to hold it and really look at it. Do you work mainly on paper?
I like to use any kind of material. Almost all my works are studies. Basically I use paper, cardboard, fabric and also on canvas and panels. I like to work with smaller dimensions. My drawings are small. Future I want to work with larger dimensions. I use colour pencil, pastel, graphite, paint, coffee etc. any type of pigment is used in my work. I like technique, but I prefer to draw and paint freely.
A lot of your work combines text with your drawing. What comes first, the image or the words?
Well, I love to write short poems. So many of my poems are placed on my drawings. Sometimes I use a few words and sometimes I use an entire sentence. In some drawings I get the words and then come the scribbles. In others I start sketching and then I write on the drawings. I have no rules. My time to draw is when I want to draw. I do not have a specific time. At all times it is time to write poems and draw.
I love your works ‘EL CIEL POR LA VENTANA’ and ‘THE ACTS DECEIVE’…
“El Cielo por la Ventana” is a draw that is in my sketchbook. This work was done when I was traveling and during the trip I looked out the window of the bus and had a wonderful sky. I love to look at the sky and then draw or write poems. About the draw “The Acts Deceive” I went through a moment of disappointment with some people and also myself. So I wrote that sentence and then I made little scribbles.
Above: EL CIEL POR LA VENTANA
Above: THE ACTS DECEIVE
Tell us about your work ‘EXPANSION’…
I love to imagine the mysteries and the immensity of space. Because we are always expanding and this causes me a suspension.
The beautiful chair on blue paper… it’s so sensitive and simple yet leaves me longing to know whose chair it is and if they are ever going to come back and sit on it…
Well, the chair is a symbol that appears a lot in my work. It literally means waiting for something. I do not like, but I’m always waiting. I think the chair a sensual object.
Tell us about your studio space…
Well, my studio is in my apartment. The living room has become my place of work. I love working in my studio because my work speaks of many things and one of them is loneliness.
What jobs have you held outside of your art?
My job is only to art. I don’t know to do something else that is not related to art. My life is make art. I also work with contemporary dance. I am a dancer and choreographer.
Can you tell us what else you like to do? What’s a typical day in the life of Edson Fernandes?
When I’m not working with art, I like to play football, I like my bike, I like being with family and have fun with many children. I love children. I love taking care of my little flowers too.
Edson, thank you so much. Muito obrigado! It’s been so wonderful getting to know you and learning more about your beautiful work. I wish you lots of luck with all your future endeavours and very much look forward to seeing them. Can you please say goodbye with a tune that you love…
I would like Rage Against the Machine – Bullet in the Head
If you would like to see more of Edson’s work you can follow him here on instagram
words: CAND JUSKUS and EDSON FERNANDES
images: EDSON FERNANDEZ
