Animal Farm is inspired by the novel of George Orwell. I am using famous portraits of European monarchs that are related to colonial process across the Global South. Those are somewhat sarcastic and portray the native fauna and flora from places across South Asia, Africa and South America in allegorical clothing and poses.
I developed patterns inspired by the floor of Teatro Amazonas. The intercalation of jacaranda and pau brasil, symbolises the meeting of the waters of the rivers Negro and Solimões. The Teatro Amazonas is one of the most important theatres in Brazil. It was inaugurated in 1896 to meet the desire of the Amazonian elite of the time, who idealized the city at the height of the great cultural centers. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful theatres in the world.
This body of work became a NFT collection where 100% of the primary sales of this project are going to supporting the development of the Surui Paiter and Cintas-Largas people as well as their CriptomoedaOYX project. You can see the full collection here.
Painting reference: Marie Antoinette with a Rose by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, 1783.
Animal: Mongoose
Plant: Plumeria
Painting reference: King Sebastian at El Prado by Cristóvao de Morais, 1572.
Animal: Lobo-guará (Maned wolf)
Plant: Victoria Amazonia
Painting reference: Posthumous portrait of Columbus by Sebastian del Piombo, 1519. (There are no known authentic portraits of Columbus.)
Animal: Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
Plant: Maize (Zea May L.) & Cotton (gossypium hirsutum)