Brazilian artist davi de jesus do nascimento explores the intersection of poetry, memory, and the geography of the São Francisco River. Born in Pirapora, Minas Gerais, the artist’s work is deeply informed by his family's history of displacement due to the Sobradinho dam and the tragic loss of his mother to the river. His practice spans painting, installation, and performance, all rooted in a linguistic and philosophical framework he calls "Tongue River Theory."
This profile highlights the emergence of a significant voice from Brazil’s interior, challenging the Rio-São Paulo axis of the contemporary art world. By weaving together the literary legacy of Guimarães Rosa with post-colonial ecological concerns, de jesus do nascimento transforms regional trauma and local folklore into a sophisticated visual language that addresses universal themes of belonging and environmental change.