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Maria Celeste Carvalho Neves’ father was the mayor of Florianópolis, and her entire family has a tradition in local politics. Maria Celeste certainly didn’t need to worry about earning a living, but fortunately she didn’t leave things be. Keen observer, she has always been a fast learner and she learned embroidery from a young age. “I made tea towels, shelf covers, dresses for the dolls... I became a teacher, but didn’t really enjoy it. Then I tried to become a civil servant and got married in 1946. One day, I can’t remember exactly when, I decided to embroider four squares of fabric to give to my children. I made three shantytown scenes and one harbour. Local scenes, memories I had. When my father was the mayor we used to rent a cart and drive around the hills. He used to explain everything to me, then we’d go to festivals and I have very good memories of that time. My pictures are my memories. I’m recreating everything that used to take place on the island. The festivals, traditions and landscapes I saw as a child. I’m very proud of having started when I was 64 years old, and now I have over 520 pieces.” Maria Celeste was born in 1919 and loves Florianópolis. Her pictures are bright, embroideries and montages made by someone with a special vision of the local landscape, overflowing with history and tradition. Scenes that could never be revisited, were it not for Maria Celeste’s pictures, painted with fabric scraps, thread, lace and needles. |
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