RICARDO PESSÔA DE QUEIROZ
“The Die is Cast II” 2017
A set of four steel dice measuring 50cm X 50cm X 50cm
A toss of the dice promises luck and is a strong gesture by Ricardo to bring life back to the community of engenho fechado. After having made “Luck Is Cast” in 2015, even before the start of the sculpture park project, he created a second version of the work to send a message of hope and a new beginning for the new cultural, botanical, and educational project of the Usina de Arte.
“Imaginary House” 2016
Two doors and two windows of Portuguese Royal stones from 1850, on a handmade yellow brick floor. 6,12m wide X 8,18m long X 3,32m high
Ricardo loves history and especially the history of Pernambuco and the Northeast of Brazil. He was not happy with the violent reconstruction that happened in Recife and that destroyed what made Recife known as the Brazilian Venice, in the insular part of the city and consisted of a charming neighborhood of labyrinths and small canals. So, he was very happy to get these old doors and windows made of Portuguese stones (which came from Portugal in order to ballast the ships, to be then loaded with the riches of Brazil) to create this symbolic open-air room that remains as a souvenir and pleasant place for the celebrations at the Usina. The “Casa Imaginária” (Imaginary House) celebrates the heritage of Pernambuco.
“Data Vênia” 2017
A structure of iron beams, epiphytic plants and 2 wooden swings. 4.81m wide X 5.65m long X 4.75m high
Data Vênia celebrates Pernambuco’s industrial heritage. In 2012, Ricardo took advantage of this incredible ‘neoconcrete’ (an artistic manifestation that emerged in opposition to concretism, criticizing its excess of objectivity) iron structure, coming from a factory that had been closed nearby, to invent a new interactive work for the public at Usina de Arte. Plants and iron are paired to address the different harmonies that can be found between the industrial world and Nature. And the 2 swings bring a playful and poetic touch for visitors to escape from everyday life and return to childhood. Data Vênia is a legal term to say that something is done with permission. The work was installed with the approval of the artist Paulo Meira, who has his work “Rádio Catimbó” positioned at the top of the hill, and Ricardo’s work a little further down on a plateau on the hillside.
Ricardo Pessôa de Queiroz Filho
Recife, Pernambuco, 1962
He currently lives and works in Recife, Brazil
Rooted in a cultural philanthropic tradition, the Pessôa de Queiroz family has supported and led the Usina de Arte project since 2015, transforming a former sugarcane mill into an anthropocene art-botanical park. Proud of the nearly thirty works already installed, Ricardo Pessôa de Queiroz, the creator of the project also defines himself as an ‘experimenter’ and created 3 works that can be found in the park.
