In May 2024, I took part in Sarau do Bem, a solidarity event held in Dublin to raise funds for families affected by the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Organized by members of the Brazilian community, the event brought together music, poetry, and visual arts in support of those impacted. All proceeds from ticket sales and artistic contributions were directed to trusted institutions assisting affected families.
As a Brazilian artist, I felt a deep personal connection to the cause and contributed through a live painting performance. During the event, I created a piece titled Guaíba Sunset, inspired by the waters of the Guaíba River — a landscape that holds both beauty and, at that moment, the weight of environmental and human loss.
The painting was raffled live during the evening, raising €121, which was fully donated to support relief efforts. In a moment of profound synchronicity, the artwork was won by Sara Ribeiro, a poet originally from Rio Grande do Sul, whose community and loved ones were directly affected by the floods.
This encounter brought a powerful sense of meaning to the piece — transforming it into more than an artwork, but a gesture of connection, solidarity, and shared experience.
Through Guaíba Sunset, I sought to honor the duality of water: its force and unpredictability, but also its capacity for renewal — offering a vision of transformation and light within a moment of collective crisis.
