It is undoubtedly a popular conviction that art is amongst the most captivating forms of self-expression. For Fabio Oliveira, known to the world of art as Cranio Artes, his distinctive works are about more than just creativity. His idiosyncratic murals – exuberant with a somewhat enchanting character – hope to provoke spectators to ponder the issues of our contemporary world; from consumerism and identity to corruption and our vulnerable environment.
Cranio’s Indians, which have almost established themselves as a second identity to the notable artist, are the product of his imaginative journey to divulging a valiant figure which would truthfully portray the aboriginal people of Brazil, in Cranio’s characteristically curious and often comical situations. “My art is a mixture of a surreal environment with my blue indigenous character. The whole idea of my work is to show what is going on, and the real things that happen in our society, sometimes with humour, sometimes with an unreal dreaming scene. My character is blue ‘cause he’s got the huge metropolis disease of massification and consumerism.”
Cranio’s passion for adventure and travelling overseas, encountering people from a whole host of cultures and circumstances led him to explore our sprightly city that is Liverpool, where he etched onto the heart of our city’s walls some of the most intriguing of his masterpieces, which would later inevitably be admired by the wonderstruck masses. “I love to travel overseas, meet people and new cultures and cities around the world. I love to paint in the UK. I try to paint different things here than I do in Brazil, but I also need to show what happens in our country, the homeless people sleeping on the streets, people showing off their new sneakers or mobiles…it’s a different place, but the idea is always to discuss the little things that nobody cares about.”
Whilst many aspire to change the world, Cranio believes that he is already doing it. Passionate about his teachings, Cranio teaches young students the unique graffiti and painting techniques he uses in order to develop them into better artists for the future. “I also donate canvases at social auctions to raise money for those people that really need support. This year, I’ve donated again to raise money to build soccer fields in the poor suburbs in a few cities in Brazil that have a huge lack of entertainment.”
What originally inspired your artwork Cranio? It is certainly very unique.
Things and facts that are happening every day, in our day-by-day lives. Small things that we don’t always acknowledge such as traffic, police abuse, lack of water, misuse of our hydric system, lack of investments in public education, corruption, environment and the many, many other issues we have.
How did you go about making such a successful career as an artist happen?
I don’t think too much about it. I just did what I loved most; art! I guess if you work hard and with passion, you will succeed.
Of course! I was always taught that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it! How would you describe your artwork?
My art is a mixture of a surreal environment with my blue indigenous character. The whole idea of my work is to show what is going on with the real things that happen in our society, sometimes with humour, sometimes with an unreal dreaming scene. My character is blue ‘cause he got the huge metropolis disease of massification and consumerism.
What can we expect from Cranio for the duration of 2014 and beyond?
Every day I am trying to create new works, new ideas. I have several projects, but I am doing one at a time. In the last three years I have improved a lot of my techniques and the quality of my work, canvas and all art materials I’m using. I’m sure I can still improve a lot more. I’m already preparing a cool installation and a series of 30 sculptures for next March here in Sao Paulo, Brazil. But I can’t show anything yet. Surprise!
What made you bring your artwork here to Liverpool? What does the artwork in Liverpool mean to you, and how do you hope that it will be perceived by others?
I guess I loved to travel overseas, meet new people and explore new cultures and cities around the world. The UK was a destiny. Not only Liverpool, but other cities as well because I had thousands of people following me, pestering me to know when I would visit the UK. So, in the last three years I have been three times! I am also planning to visit next year! I love to paint there, I try to paint different things than I do in Brazil but I also need to show what happens in our country such as homeless people sleeping on the streets, people showing off their new sneakers or mobiles…it’s a different place, but the idea is always to discuss the little things that nobody cares about.
How would you describe your profile in Brazil during the World Cup?
I’ve done many graffitis in the last three or four years telling people about the corruption of the event and also that the Brazilian people only care about soccer and about being a patriot when it comes to this huge event. Because everyone here loves soccer, I want to show what is really going on. I usually show both sides of the coin, I mean, I want to criticise the event but also show the Brazilians that are serious about going to the games and spend all of their money to watch a game, and also the poor people that listen to the games through old battered radios in bars.
What is your favourite piece of artwork and why?
I love everything I do, but it’s quite important for me to be talking about the environment and what could happen in the future. I really love this piece:
Which of your fellow artists most inspire you? Who is your favourite and why?
I love Salvador Dali, he really inspired me in the surreal pieces I do. I am also a great fan of comics and animations. I guess my style is a mixture of both worlds.
So, you’re coming back to the UK next year…will you be returning to Liverpool any time soon?
Sure! In the last three years I’ve been there three times already. And every 8-10 months I’m releasing a new print in London, so there’s always a great opportunity to come back.
If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?
I think I’m already doing it. I do two things I really appreciate. The first is to teach for young students the graffiti and painting techniques I use, so they can become better artists and decide to work with art in the future. The second that I have done three times already is to donate canvas for social auction projects to raise money for people that really need support. This year I’ve done it again to raise money to build soccer fields in the poor suburbs in a few cities in Brazil that have a huge lack of entertainment.
To browse the fantastic works by Cranio Artes, visit http://cranioartes.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment