Djanira da Motta e Silva

This is one of the most striking works in the exhibition. The vibrant colours in this large format appeal to the senses, while the enchantingly mysterious, faceless figures intrigue and raise questions. Djanira da Motta e Silva has skilfully combined Brazilian tradition in her choice of motifs with a modern visual language. The figurative and the abstract go hand in hand, as Djanira once described it:

“I believe with unshakeable conviction in the beauty of both non-representational and figurative art. Art is one. We can coexist without being at war.”

In the early 1950s, she travelled to the Bahia region for the first time, where she became acquainted with the religious traditions of the Afro-Brazilian population. It was during this period that Candomblé themes found their way into her work. This cult is based on elements of the African religions of the Bantu, Fon and Yoruba. These were brought to Brazil by slaves in the 16^th century and developed into a cult of their own.

In the work displayed here, Three Orishas, Djanira has painted figures from the Candomblé cult: they are the three important deities Yemanyá, Oxalá and Oxum. On the left is Yemanyá, a protective deity with maternal traits. She is often depicted as a mermaid – in this picture she is wearing the matching emblem on her chest. She is responsible for everything to do with birth. In the centre stands Oxalá, actually a father god and creator, whom Djanira portrays as a woman. On the right is Oxum, the deity of water, but also of pleasure, fertility, beauty and love. The deities are framed by two drummers.

The arrangement of the figures is strictly geometric. The figure in the centre stands slightly in front of the other two, which in turn stand in front of the drummers. This triangular form is echoed in the shape of the deities themselves, with their sumptuously ornamented skirts. The areas of colour in the upper background are also triangles. Djanira said of her compositional style:

“I find it important to carefully plan the formal structure of a work of art. The subject must be created with the highest standards of design, composition and colour. That is how I create my paintings.”