Eder Muniz
"Boca da Mata"
2022
Boca da mata by Eder Muniz was commissioned by the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies and the College of Arts and Letters Dean’s Office as part of the launch of the new Brazil Sustainability Initiative. The mural depicts flora and fauna from across Brazil’s seven biomes: Amazônia and the lush rainforest, the sprawling savannah of the Cerrado, the mythical desert landscape of the Caatinga, the floodplains of the Pantanal, and the tropical forests of the Mata Atlântica.
Muniz’s mural captures iconic animals from across Brazil, each with their own energy and symbolism, from the jaguar to the butterfly, the tucan to the toad, mushrooms and crystals to birds of paradise. The purple and blue background adds a liquid dimension to the mural, giving it a sense of movement and reminding us of the rich life it depicts.
The mural is located on the 6th floor patio of the Arts and Letters building, a popular location for studying and meetings. Boca da Mata completely transforms the patio and infuses the space with color and warmth while reminding us of the importance of protecting our fragile ecosystems.
Artist Statement by Eder Muniz
In this composition I include many life forms and the diversity of Brazil’s flora and fauna within a limited space. Here there is a mixture of elements from the different biomes: reptiles, birds, amphibians, mammals, minerals, and fungis. The parrot is a strong symbol of the pantanal and amazon, and it captures an intimate moment between the two parrots in a playful game of colors of blue, red, and yellow. There’s form, and also abstraction. The jaguar, representing concentration, and patience, waits among the leaves, which is a typical scene from Brazil. There’s the green iguana, the green snake, and the armadillo, all of which are important symbols in Brazilian culture. There are flowers from the tropics and a butterfly, so I tried to include all of these elements from the insect to the mammal. The idea is for the spectator to see the movement and to remember the elements, wind and water.
Photo Credit: Camila Badaro
