Cecília Meireles
Cecília (1901-1964) liked to write and she wrote... a lot! There were more than fifty published works! The author started writing when she was young - her first work was published at the age of 18 - and, throughout her life, she wandered through different genres: poetry, chronicle, short story, essay, children's literature and didactics. Despite having explored many styles, Cecília ended up consecrated in the universe of poetry and children's literature.
In addition to writing literary texts, this admirable woman was a teacher, journalist and founded the first children's library in Rio de Janeiro in 1934.
This brilliant Brazilian writer had a sad life story: her father died shortly before her birth and her mother died when the girl was only 3 years old. Without a father or mother, Cecília was raised by her maternal grandmother.
The poet was married twice, the first time to a Portuguese artist with whom she had three daughters.
Artist: Angela Maasalu (Estonia)
(Image credit: Encyclopedia Britannica)
Artist
Angela Maasalu (1990) is a painter whose work focuses on personal and intimate themes. She is interested in contradictory human experiences, simultaneously recognising happiness and sadness, the drama and comedy of life. She often uses autobiographic elements to tell stories, combining them with symbolic and poetic imagery in order to expand her personal experience to a more widely understood level. Her work is metaphorical, fairytale-like and relies on narrative beyond the image.
Maasalu begun working with personal and everyday topics during her Master’s studies and after graduating she has often explored the daily life of her generation. She focuses on themes like socialising, relationships, personal space and home. In 2016 Maasalu presented her solo exhibition “Home” at The Back Room project space in London and in 2017 followed it up with “Kodu II” (Home II) at Vaal Gallery. During the performative exhibition project Maasalu continued examining the various meanings of home, building a house in the gallery space and relating that to the institutional white cube. Highlighting oppositions like a home that’s secure and a home that’s made dangerous by close relationships, public and private space, and goals and real opportunities, Maasalu contemplated ways to make oneself heard in the context of contemporary art. She addressed the notion of security and the meaning of home also with her solo exhibition “Clytemnestra never loved you” (2016) at the DA Gallery in Greece. At the group show “Metaphors for a home” (2018) at Tartu Art Museum Maasalu looked at themes like homelessness, community and constantly being on the road.