Multilingual: Words are Amazing Things

ESCOLA AQUI

I am Brazilian; therefore, Portuguese is part of who I am. It is part of my “cultural toolbox.” For example, when I am in another country, my Brazilian background manifests itself more evidently––not as a rigid or fixed characteristic of my being, but as part of a code I learned to understand foreign culture through contrast and comparison. From my own cultural reference, language, and symbolic repertoire, I can connect to the stranger and learn more from them.

The beginning of Escola Aqui was bilingual, which was part of my condition when I first proposed it—but its future is multilingual. Since it was projected to be disseminated on the internet, open to everyone’s appropriation, its many other translations will arrive eventually.

Additionally, because of the fact that it is discourse and text-based, everything related to words is critical, and so diverse languages will always be a fundamental part of the work. All of the aspects involved in reading, writing, and speaking are at the core of this project.

The variety of people’s handwriting and how they occupy a sheet of paper result in various lines, circles, and diagrams. The sound textures of the diverse voices, accents, and rhythms with which the participants speak are the raw materials that I feel attracted to transform into art.

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Escola Aqui

Activation occurred on February 29, 2020. In the photo: Fernanda and Iara. Ativação ocorrida em 29 de fevereiro de 2020. Na foto: Fernanda e Iara.

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Escola Aqui

Activation on February 29, 2020. In the photo: Dani, Cris, Denali, Andrew, Fernanda, and Iara (left to right). Ativação ocorrida em 29 de fevereiro de 2020. Na foto (esq para dir): Dani, Cris, Denali, Andrew, Fernanda e Iara.

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