Art and the Environment in Focus: Second Day of the Curupira Exhibition Discusses Biodiversity and Ecological Awareness
Event held at the Curro Velho Workshop Center debates environmental issues and highlights the importance of the intersection between art, education, and science
The second day of the Curupira Exhibition, held last Friday, the 24th, discussed the relevance of Amazonian biodiversity and the need to awaken ecological awareness in the population. The event, which seeks interaction between different cultural languages and environmental themes, brought together researchers, artists, and the public for a deeper exploration of the topics.
The program began in the morning at 10 AM with the presentation "The Incredible World of Insects Through Macrophotography," led by César Favacho. In the afternoon, the agenda continued at 4 PM with the panel "Animals as Comic Book Characters," featuring Leonardo Dressant, followed by a film debate at 5 PM on the theme "The Invisible Victims of the Climate Crisis."
César Favacho, a PhD student at the Emílio Goeldi Museum and biologist, emphasized the relevance of the initiative for society and wildlife. For the researcher, events that discuss biodiversity, which is abundant in the region and under threat, are essential. "This type of event that talks about biodiversity is very important, and the Cultural Foundation, being a cultural promotion body, has a very diverse audience and reaches many people. I think this interaction between art and education is a very good combination that generates a lot of interesting things for everyone," he concluded.
The complexity of environmental problems and the need for clarity for the population were points raised by visual artist, cartoonist, and writer Leonardo Dressant, who recognized the role of events like the Curupira Exhibition for this learning. "We need to clarify these issues for our population, especially environmental ones. These problems are present in our society and are somewhat complex to discuss. We are close to a major international event, and the population still does not know the topic in depth, so the more we can break it down and make it simpler for the people in our territory to understand how this will bring benefits to them, the more important it becomes," Dressant reflected.
The cartoonist emphasized that his work has long focused on ecological issues, such as improper waste disposal. By viewing comics as a pedagogical tool, he found a way to address difficult subjects in an accessible manner. "When I use simpler language, a more child-friendly comic, it makes it easier for children to absorb this information and bring it home for discussion," he explained.
Andrei Miralha, workshop coordinator at Curro Velho, reflected on the distancing between people and the environment, underscoring that humanity is an integral part of nature. "We have a certain distance from the forest, from animals, as if they were something else. We are part of this entire universe of animals and plants; we are part of it. We should not think that we are above it," Miralha stated.
The coordinator also sees great potential in partnerships with organizations such as Ibama and the NGO World Animal Protection. "I think we can do much more; I believe this project we started this year is a pilot, a smaller version that we can expand, improve, and bring these people together to discuss these themes," he concluded.
The Cultural Foundation of Pará (FCP) reaffirms its role in integrating art, education, science, and relevant themes for society. Follow FCP's actions on our website and our social media.
