Lifelike reflections of rural Brazil
- Maria Luciene depicts traditional north eastern Brazil scenes in clay
- Clay had a transformative effect on her life when she first encountered it
- She works at the local collective workshop to produce her pieces
Maria Luciene Da Silva Siqueira, known as Sil da Capela, worked as a cane cutter before turning to clay and becoming a sculptor. She discovered her passion for clay work under the guidance of master João das Alagoas, recognised as one of Brazil's greatest popular artists. Maria Luciene's work is consistently rendered in the natural hue of clay, devoid of painted embellishments. Inspired by personal anecdotes and cultural traditions from north eastern Brazil, her creations vividly portray rural existence, often highlighting the jackfruit tree, emblematic of her childhood. Celebrated for their lifelike quality and meticulous craftsmanship, Maria Luciene's pieces have earned acclaim through nationwide exhibitions, including the Afro Museum in Sao Paulo.
Interview
- What significance does clay hold in your life?
- I often say I was reborn when I discovered clay. Having never seen a clay artwork before, I fell in love from the first day I encountered it. Its texture, malleability, and earthy scent spoke to me like nothing else ever had, shaping my art and my life.
- What do you wish to showcase to the world through your craft?
- I want to show the beauty of the Brazilian Northeast, and of my people, through carving jackfruit trees, huts, little churches, and capture festivities scenes, portraits of daily life, children’s play, and the type of life they lead in Capela.
- What guidance would you offer to other ceramicists?
- If you do not have love for what you do, and support from your family, you will not get anywhere.
- What is the behind-the-scenes process of your work?
- I create my pieces in a collective workshop led by João das Alagoas. Clay is sourced from nearby pits or city locations, and I fire my pieces in a communal wood-fired oven. When I fire pieces, my heart fills with apprehension and expectations due to the handling complexities of large pieces like mine.
Maria Luciene Da Silva Siqueira is a master artisan: she began her career in 1990 and she started teaching in 2017
Where
Maria Luciene Da Silva Siqueira
