THE LANDING OF ONÇA CAETANA

We are thrilled to bring to Fortaleza the 9th stop of the exhibition Armorial 50 tour, which honors the artists who created the Movimento Armorial – especially Ariano Suassuna. It is one of the longest-running exhibitions touring Brazil today and a source of immense joy in these 32 years dedicated to cultural production.

In 2020, amidst the pandemic, the exhibition began to take shape. Curator Denise Mattar and I shared ideas, joy, and the vibrant colors of Armorial to (re)create the effervescence of this movement. With her delicate and comprehensive vision, she crafted a stunning curatorial work. I thank my friend and mentor for this partnership.

Manuel Dantas Suassuna, Ariano’s son, provided deeper access to Ariano’s magical universe, alongside Carlos Newton Júnior and Ricardo Gouveia.

At each edition, the Armorial family gathers around Onça Caetana to celebrate: from Rio de Janeiro, Marcela Sá and Anna Accioly; from São Paulo, Denise Mattar, Guilherme Isnard, Ana Lucas, Felipe Barros de Brito, Flávia Rossette, Celeste Bartoletti, and Bruno Fedelli; from Florianópolis, Celso Rabetti and Mariana Pereira; from Belo Horizonte, Edson Jr. and Mércia Ellen; from Brasília, Nina Fragale, Chico Sassi, and Chico Mozart; from Campina Grande, Alan Cruz; from Salvador, Ana Kalil; from Fortaleza, Cristiane Pires, Helena Félix, and Isabelle Vieira, along with the Unifor team. Thank you for the energy and vibrancy you bring to this encounter with the Ceará audience.

In this synergy, the partnership with Petrobras gives us the opportunity to create and recreate the exhibition in various formats, allowing popular culture to occupy important cultural spaces across Brazil and fostering new dialogues between the public and the artists.

Praise Ariano Suassuna. He is present.

I invite the public to immerse themselves in the joy, colors, sounds, and tributes to Brazilian popular culture. Let’s celebrate the gifts that life brings us through encounters.

Regina Godoy

Exhibition Director