Handcarvers of intuition
- Mário and Alex’s hand-sculpted works are rooted in tradition, faith and Brazilian folklore
- The Teles family carves intuitively, letting the wood and emotion lead the way
- The same tools, handed down through three generations, are still used at the carving bench today
Father and son Mário and Alex Teles carry forward the legacy of one of Brazil’s most emblematic sculptors, that of Geraldo Teles de Oliveira (GTO), who started carving wood with a pocketknife. "In honour of my grandfather, we follow the primitivist method, using only pocketknives and chisels," explains Alex. "No machines, not even sandpaper. We rely on intuition to shape sculptures inspired by folklore, religion, music, and poetry." For the Teles family, carving across generations is a shared experience. “We interact constantly at the same workbench, where we once sat the three of us with my father," says Mário. The same tools have been passed from hand to hand, a symbolic flowing of ideas between the three craftsmen. Their work, now found in over 150 countries, is part of a living expression of Brazilian folk art.
Interview
- How do you transform a wood block into a sculpture?
- Alex: It begins with an idea that flows naturally, guided by the dimensions of the wood block. The mind then transforms this idea into a form, often reflecting the emotions of the moment. When we look at the wood, thought gives way to intuition, and the carving begins. It is not about forcing a shape, but about removing what is unnecessary.
- Had GTO ever told you what inspired him?
- Mário: One day, GTO said he heard nature speaking through the trees, which led him to carve fallen branches. Later, he saw and heard God in a dream. From that moment, he dared to dream, and became the poet who carved, the artist of dreams, grateful for the four hands that would one day carry those dreams forward.
- What tools do you use?
- Mário: Before passing, GTO stored his pocketknife and chisels in a box and handed them to me, and I later passed them on to Alex, as a gift of skill. They were passed down as a calling. Talent comes from within.
- Do you offer workshops or museum visits?
- Both: We offer guided visits, workshops and courses of our space. Today, we focus on working with autistic students, the elderly, and those with special needs. The GTO Home Museum remains open by appointment.
Alex & Mário Teles are master artisans: they began their career in 1969 and they started teaching in 2000
Where
Alex & Mário Teles
