Rio de Janeiro continues Lindo

"O Rio de Janeiro continua lindo

O Rio de Janeiro continua sendo

O Rio de Janeiro, fevereiro e março"

...

The title refers to a song "Aquele Abraço" (That Embrace) by Gilberto Gil, Brazilian singer. In his lyrics he describes the most typical things, the roots of the city of Rio.

It's been 6 years since I arrived in Brazil, and specifically 1 year and a half ago I am officially living in the city of Rio.

The heat, the beaches, the people, the açaí, the mountain that merges with the city. You are walking and on one side you have the mountain and on the other the beach. The nature that fights with the buildings in order not to lose its prominence. It is a wonderful city.

A little more than 6 months ago a couple of friends left Rio who loved Rio as much as I did, even though they were also Argentinian. I thought for a long time about what to give them... until I came across a card that they give out in the hotel where I work that has a profile of Rio, of the Guanabara Bay, to be more specific. And I thought, "Can I recreate it in macramé?

The challenge was great, I had never made a landscape in macrame before. My knowledge is still developing, and the techniques are getting stronger.

But I never say no to an artistic challenge. Without further ado, I threw myself into the challenge.

I did some maths on how big it was going to be, how much material I was going to need and other details. I had to think about how they were going to travel with it and how they were going to assemble it when they arrived at their new home. I drew everything in a little notebook, with the exact measurements (which I never respect to the letter) and I started.

I'm not going to go into the step by step, because there really isn't one. It was a work that flowed from my mind to my hands, and from my hands to my mind. Going through the whole body, feeling at times emition of the silhouettes that were forming, and a bit of frustration also of what didn't look exactly as I wanted. But I remembered that it was a gift, that it was the first time I had done something like this, and that there is no such thing as perfection in art.

At the end of the day, all my energy and excitement that I felt when I finished it was reflected in the eyes of the crouching people. And that's where the magic happens... in that very moment. They didn't expect it, and I don't think I did either. One is never prepared for the reaction of another. Never!

What I want to say is: let yourself go, feel the magic happening in your body when you create. And I'm not just talking about art, I'm talking about a meal, about repotting a plant, about giving a hug. We have to feel more, we are so disconnected from ourselves, and from the world.

It's like nature in Rio, that fights with the asphalt. Fight with what blocks you, let your nature emerge and fill you with love.

Thanks for reading!