One dark night, Lazarus disappeared
Coruchéus Gallery, Lisbon, 2025
Dusk. Outside, the crickets were orchestrating a gri-gri in the tone of a funeral march
- Who's there?
It's me Lazarus!
I will be back. I
will return to take you to the mountain.
It's me Lazarus!
I will be back. I
will return to take you to the mountain.
Lazarus opened the door and disappeared into the darkness.
At the Big House
The beating was monumental.
The money and jewellery that caused all the servants in Mr. Morgado's yard to be whipped,
weren’t far.
weren’t far.
Lazarus had become not only a fugitive but also a robber.
revolting against
society, due to the oppression that was then exerted on the working people by the large landowners - the Morgados.
revolting against
society, due to the oppression that was then exerted on the working people by the large landowners - the Morgados.
He wanted to be free
Lazarus became a thief
to steal what he
classified as the sweat of the people
to steal what he
classified as the sweat of the people
The thief of Morgado's money and jewellery had been Lazarus.
he decided to look
in those who have a lot, the little that they lacked.
he decided to look
in those who have a lot, the little that they lacked.
One dark night, Lazarus disappeared.
looking for a place
safe to hide the product of his risky work, until he found a hole that gave access to a cave
the robber
was soon classified as an enemy number one of the haute bourgeoisie
looking for a place
safe to hide the product of his risky work, until he found a hole that gave access to a cave
the robber
was soon classified as an enemy number one of the haute bourgeoisie
The night was rainy and an east wind was blowing strong, bending the trees, whose tops swayed with ominous cracks. Everything predicted that pitch darkness would appear. Lazarus, in his cave, reviewed his tormented life.
He had no difficulty in penetrating the mansion
He had no difficulty in penetrating the mansion
In the room the Morgadinha
slept
Her black hair, divided into two long braids, spread across
the pillow Felt
a great pity for that creature, who was going to pay for her father's turpitude.
Lazarus' days were already numbered
slept
Her black hair, divided into two long braids, spread across
the pillow Felt
a great pity for that creature, who was going to pay for her father's turpitude.
Lazarus' days were already numbered
he let a vile thirst for revenge overcome his laudable ideals.
Lazarus the robber who, according to what is said, was condemned to death
When they opened their heart, inside was a lock of black hair
like jet.
like jet.
¹
___
¹ English translation of the quotes from the book by João de Deus Lopes da Silva:
Stories told: Based on legends, tales and myths from the Island of Santiago. Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde, Ulmeiro, 2014).
Stories told: Based on legends, tales and myths from the Island of Santiago. Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde, Ulmeiro, 2014).
Untitled (Estudo para um Pano), 2025
20 x 90 cm, Single edition
Weaving by Patrícia Ribeiro, cotton and linen dyed with indigo
(According to studies present in the catalogue of the exhibition Panos de Cabo Verde e Guiné-Bissau, National Museum of Ethnology, 1996)
20 x 90 cm, Single edition
Weaving by Patrícia Ribeiro, cotton and linen dyed with indigo
(According to studies present in the catalogue of the exhibition Panos de Cabo Verde e Guiné-Bissau, National Museum of Ethnology, 1996)
Untitled (Lázaro – O Salteador), 2025
21 x 70 cm, Single edition
Fragments of scans, with phrases taken from the book by João de Deus Lopes da Silva: Histórias Contadas: Baseadas em lendas, Contos e Mitos da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde, Ulmeiro, 2014
21 x 70 cm, Single edition
Fragments of scans, with phrases taken from the book by João de Deus Lopes da Silva: Histórias Contadas: Baseadas em lendas, Contos e Mitos da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde, Ulmeiro, 2014