Casal de Saci Pererê com duas cobras
Artist name
Artist year born
1936
Artist year deceased
2007
Artwork title translation
Saci Pererê Couple with Two Snakes
Artwork material
wood
Artwork dimensions
height: 104cm
width: 30cm
depth: 30cm
width: 30cm
depth: 30cm
Artwork type (categories)
Sculpture
Accession method
Donated by Paulo Pardal 2002
Accession number
20-2002
Label text
This piece is one in a large number of woodcarvings by Chico Tabibuia that are sculpted from individual tree trunks. He obtains the subject matter of his works from his own dreams, using this ritual process as his only working method. The sculptures impersonate deities or orixas from the Umbanda pantheon with large sexual attributes, which makes them both erotic and sacred. He also follows his dreams to choose the gender for his pieces, which might change if the dream so indicates, even after he has worked on a figure.
Casal de Saci Pererê com duas cobras seems a recreation of the myth of Adam and Eve, the archetypical couple, forefathers of all creation, here accompanied by not one but two snakes. The ensemble is a tight composition of interlocking forms in which one figure seems to merge with the other, carved out of the same section of wood. The male figure has a pointed head and cloven feet; his enormous phallus, trademark of all Tabibuia's sculptures, imbues the figure with supra-natural qualities of fertility. The female figure presents blocky feet and small breasts. Her sexual attributes are symbolised by a slit in the wood. The title of the piece suggests a link to Saci Pererê. According to popular belief dating back to the late 18th century, Saci Pererê is an elusive spirit of the forest, to blame for the disappearance of objects. He remains a very popular mythical entity among Brazilian people, represented as a little one-legged man smoking a pipe and wearing a red cap that gives him magic powers.
Gabriela Salgado
Casal de Saci Pererê com duas cobras seems a recreation of the myth of Adam and Eve, the archetypical couple, forefathers of all creation, here accompanied by not one but two snakes. The ensemble is a tight composition of interlocking forms in which one figure seems to merge with the other, carved out of the same section of wood. The male figure has a pointed head and cloven feet; his enormous phallus, trademark of all Tabibuia's sculptures, imbues the figure with supra-natural qualities of fertility. The female figure presents blocky feet and small breasts. Her sexual attributes are symbolised by a slit in the wood. The title of the piece suggests a link to Saci Pererê. According to popular belief dating back to the late 18th century, Saci Pererê is an elusive spirit of the forest, to blame for the disappearance of objects. He remains a very popular mythical entity among Brazilian people, represented as a little one-legged man smoking a pipe and wearing a red cap that gives him magic powers.
Gabriela Salgado
Last updated date
2005