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Nelson Santos was born in Araçuaí in 1962. After living and working on a small farm, suffering the drought and the lack of jobs, he spent almost 20 years cutting sugar cane in São Paulo and Mato Grosso. He then went back to Araçuaí, got married and started a family. Most importantly, he moved next door to Mrs. Zefa, one of the great local sculptors. “I didn’t have anything at the time, not even tools. Mrs. Zefa helped me. I used to make pieces and show them to her. She gave me advice and when visitors went to her house she told them to come to mine as well, to see my work. I pay attention to the stories she tells as I haven’t been here long and don’t know all of them, but I learn fast and I hope I’ll be able to make a living from my art. I still do odd jobs as a bricklayer, but I have faith that one day I’ll have a proper career in art. I believe in that and I know Mrs. Zefa is helping me a lot.” |
