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São Paulo – The landscapes of the semi-arid Brazilian Northeast (Sertão Nordestino) as seen by Lebanese visual artist Elio Haddad will be on exhibition in a show called Incógnito Sertão<\/em> that is set to open on November 17 at the Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Center in Beirut.<\/p>\n “These artworks by Elio bring his vision of the Sertão Nordestino through [images of] keyholes. They are each person’s perception on the sertão. This view through the keyhole results in a subjective vision”, says Najua Bazzi, the cultural center’s director, about the artist’s works.<\/p>\n “The images have beige and yellowish tones”. He [Haddad] wants to instigate the mind of the viewer”, she says. In the show, the audience will see some 20 oil paintings made by the artist on this theme. Haddad was born in Lebanon but lived in Brazil for 27 years.<\/p>\n According to Bazzi, the exhibition aims to show a different feature of Brazil that goes beyond the usual ones shown abroad, such as carnaval and samba. “We try to show other Brazilian cultural features. The sertão is one that we want to promote”, she says.<\/p>\n On opening day, Mércia Papazian, a professor at the cultural center, will explain to the Lebanese the climate of the semi-arid Brazilian Northeast, the sertão nordestino, plus will discuss the region’s music, art and lifestyle. Papazian was born in the Northeast state of Alagoas. With a degree in Language, she teaches Portuguese, Brazilian culture and folklore to the Lebanese. During the opening, Haddad will discuss the inspiration for his works.<\/p>\n Also on November 17, a group of Lebanese musicians invited by the visual artist will perform in the mold of a musical battle, similar to the repente nordestino (freestyle rhyme musical battles typical of the Northeast region). In repente, two musicians challenge each other, with one singing about a certain theme and the other answering with his own rhymes and arguments. “Here, they will perform [the challenge] with instruments, improvising”, says Bazzi.<\/p>\n Quick facts<\/strong> <\/p>\n Exhibition Incógnito Sertão *Translated by Sérgio Kakitani<\/strong><\/p>\n
November 17 to December 6
Where: Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Center
Mar Mitr street, Trad Building, Achrafieh, Beirute
Opening cocktail: November 17, from 7 pm to 9 pm
Free admission <\/p>\n