Warao Children
€1,200.00
(2023), oil, acrylic and chalk on jute canvas, bamboo stick, 100×142 cm
Italian painter selling acrylic portrait of indigenous children
In this work, we are transported to a remote corner of Venezuela, in the Amacuro Delta State, in the heart of the Orinoco Delta, where the river represents the only communication route.
Here, we meet the Warao, known as the “canoe people”. Due to pollution, the river no longer provides them with food, but with diseases. The “Warao” children play in the polluted water of that river and many of them suffer from malnutrition, malaria and tuberculosis. To escape the economic and social crisis, many are emigrating to neighboring countries, often without receiving adequate welcome. Although their rights are recognized in the Constitution, they are too often forgotten by governments.
These children represent the link with my origins: I can glimpse my childhood, fragile but proud, with a sincere concern for their future, since they often emigrate alone.
This is a new, silent and unexplored exodus that is taking place far from Europe. The canvas is hung on a bamboo cane, recalling the traditional "guadua" material used in the construction of the stilt houses of this tribe, in river areas and in the tropical forest. In this framework, I combine my identity and my roots with an open and courageous criticism of an uncomfortable crisis, which the corrupt power of governments would prefer to keep hidden. A sincere tribute to the origins and awareness of the challenges that indigenous communities face on a daily basis.
Thanks to the photographer and artist Luis Flores Delgado for the photographic inspiration that brought this creation to life.
My passion for art and my sensitivity towards indigenous cultures pushed me to dedicate my work to the representation of these children, with the aim of capturing and sharing their beauty and uniqueness.
I use acrylic paint to create my portraits, a choice that allows me to explore a wide range of tones and textures, capturing the vibrancy and energy of my young subjects.
Each portrait of this population is an emotional journey, in which I try to connect with the soul of the child I am painting. I am inspired by their stories, their profound looks that tell more than a thousand words. I want those who look at my paintings to perceive the humanity and dignity of these children, who often live in difficult conditions but maintain an extraordinary vitality and hope. My work is a tribute to the Warao and their culture, an attempt to preserve and share their essence through art
