Efigênia Ramos Rolim was born in Santo Antônio Machipó, in the area of Abre Campo (MG), in 1931. In 1964 she moved to Londrina (PR) and has been living in Curitiba since 1971.
Her life is mixed with an imaginary, colourful world in which there are medieval adventures; pop, popular and erudite, all naturally existing side by side. There’s no use asking Efigênia what are the names of her characters. They are stories. “I’ve been a storyteller since I was 15 years old, but I started making dolls in 1990, when I became a poet. In 1991 I was walking down the street when I saw something shining on the floor. I was taken aback. I thought it was jewellery, but it was a candy wrapper. If it had been jewellery I would have worn it, and that would have been that, but as it was a candy wrapper the story continued. Candy wrappers are like human beings that have lost their filling and walk around empty. I had to give life back to them. I know there are people that don’t cherish life, but I wonder why.” Nothing escapes Efigênia’s eyes, which some people think see too much. She sees poor students that are late for their exams; corrupt governments, pregnant slaves abandoned by their masters, garbage that becomes princesses, victims of dengue fever, dragons, dancers, clowns and herself. Every Sunday, 75 years old Efigênia carries her trunk full of stories by bus, to the craft art fair in Curitiba. She turns somersaults on the square, frightens some, makes others smile and charms everyone. Once you get to know Efigênia, something shatters, explodes or transforms within. |
