#local culture

“The only true and effective ‘operator’s manual for spaceship earth’ is not a book that any human will ever write; it is hundreds of thousands of local cultures.”
~ Wendell Berry
[Landscape of Havana, 1969 - René Portocarrero] 

• Poet, novelist, and environmentalist Wendell Berry lives in Port Royal, Kentucky near his birthplace, where he has maintained a farm for over 40 years. Mistrustful of technology, he holds deep reverence for the land and is a staunch defender of agrarian values. He is the author of over 50 books of poetry, fiction, and essays. His poetry celebrates the holiness of life and everyday miracles often taken for granted. More: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wendell-berry 

• A large part of Portocarrero’s work deals with Spanish colonial subjects and Spanish-Cuban interiors. The search for national and tropical elements is superimposed on the baroque undercurrent which in large measure defines his work. … Also important is the series … of cathedrals: through a long evolution, buildings and cathedrals are combined in cityscapes which developed into the central theme of the artist’s work. More: https://panamericanart.com/artist/rene-portocarrero/ 

Goiania, Brazil

Vibrant Murals by ‘Bicicleta Sem Freio’ Burst with Pop Culture and Cartoon Characters

Brazilian artists Douglas de Castro and Renato Reno (previously) are the duo behind Bicicleta Sem Freio, who paint large-scale murals that surround their subjects with a chaotic mix of cartoon characters, squiggly splashes, and brightly colored plants and animals. Their streetside pieces, which can be found in cities like New Dehli, Jerusalem, and Fortaleza, Brazil, balance local culture and references to popular imagery and tropical landscapes.

Fortaleza, Brazil

New Delhi