IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2008 – 056

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2008.

Part 56:
Ouro Preto (MG) – Doctor Miracles
Ouro Preto (MG) – White flowers and fungus
Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone name plates
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Tupinambas lizard

Ouro Preto (MG) – Doctor Miracles

Ouro Preto (MG) – White flowers and fungus

Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone name plates

Belo Horizonte (MG) – Tupinambis lizard

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2017

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Imaging Brazil 246: Prophet Jonas in Congonhas, MG (2009)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

246: Prophet Jonas

The historic city of Congonhas is famous for the soapstone statues of twelve prophets, sculpted by Aleijadinho two centuries ago. These statues are located in front of Santuário de Bom Jesus de Matosinhos. Obviously the first letters of the prophets form the name of Aleijadinho. And one of them is Jonas, who was ordered by God to go to Ninivé, but he refused. He then got swallowed by a whale, but he survived. He eventually fulfilled God’s will and went to that Assyrian-dominated city. The moral of this story was forgiveness. He is looking upward, into the sky, as if he was communicating with God. When observing the weather-worn statues, I was wondering how the statues would have looked at the time of their creation, two centuries ago.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2009, 2017

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2008 – 029

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2008.

Part 29:
Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone artist
Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone artist
Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone handicraft
Curitiba (PR) – Taxi

Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone artist

Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone artist

Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone handicraft

Curitiba (PR) – Taxi

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2017

IMAGES OF BRAZIL: SELEXION 2008 – 028

A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2008.

Part 28:
Ouro Preto (MG) – City view
Ouro Preto (MG) – City view
Ouro Preto (MG) – Street lamp
Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone mosaic pattern

Ouro Preto (MG) – City view

Ouro Preto (MG) – City view

Ouro Preto (MG) – Street lamp

Ouro Preto (MG) – Soapstone mosaic pattern

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2008, 2016

Imaging Brazil 202: Soapstone Artist in Ouro Preto, MG (2009)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

202. Soapstone

JANUARY 2009: Soapstone

Soapstone is extracted in large quantities in the state of Minas Gerais. Ouro Preto, former capital of the state, is nationally known for the extraction and processing of soapstone. This rock, also known as steatite, is mainly composed of talc and its color is white to gray or green, depending on the degree of iron contamination. Because of its soft texture, soapstone is ultimately suitable for sculpting and carving. For example, the famous Twelve Prophets of Aleijadinho in Congonhas are carved from soapstone, and  Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro has a soapstone outer layer. In the center of the historic city of Ouro Preto, the local soapstone market is easy to find. Several independent sculptors offer their creations there. The patterns and designs may look the same, but a few managed to create unique images. The soapstone sculptors and carvers do the finishing touch at the market, as shown in the photo.

 

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2009, 2016