Exhibition Dates: October 10 – February 10
Location: Copperbridge Foundation
“BROOMS caress the Earth”
In Brazil, the word “terra” means both “floor” and “Earth”. Brooms, in this sense, connect us directly to our planet.
They are timeless instruments found in cultures across the world, carrying within them a deep symbolism of transformation. In the everyday act of sweeping the floor, we take care for one another, and preserve our shared habitat.
For Brazilian artist Monica Carvalho sweeping is, above all, an expression of respect for the environment. To her, brooms are more than cleaning tools, they are objects filled with care and affection, able to promote well-being and to nurture community life with a profound ecological meaning.
Monica loves brooms and has been devote to them for 27 years, creating and producing them in her studio in Rio de Janeiro. Each piece is crafted from natural materials sourced from Brazil’s six biomes, ranging from grasses and straw to a variety of natural fibers.
Her practice is rooted in artisanal techniques she has refined over decades, inspired by collaborations with indigenous, quilombolas, and riverine communities across different regions of the country.
With their distinctive designs, unique details, and always meticulous finishes, Monica’s brooms have become sought after by collectors worldwide, cherished as true amulets of self-care, protection and connection with people and nature.
“Sweeping is an act of reverence”, says the artist. “You bow with respect, and move the broom with care, to welcome those you love and admire.”
About Monica
Brazilian artist Monica Carvalho has been working for 27 years with natural materials sourced from Brazil’s six biomes – fruits, seeds, fallen tree trunks, fibers, grasses and more – collected by a network of collaborators in a way that causes minimal impact on the environment.
Over the years, she has been learning and teaching the use of natural materials in the visual arts, especially through immersion with indigenous communities (Macuxi, Krahô, Parakanã, Yawanawá, Jaraki and Guarani, among others), riverine and quilombolas communities, as well as with artisan cooperatives and other artists.
From these exchanges, research, and creative experiences, reviving and revisiting ancestral knowledge and practices, valuing biodiversity in each territory, and always working with manual processes, she creates unique works, objects, sculptures, and installations, produced in her studio in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Location: Copperbridge Foundation
They are timeless instruments found in cultures across the world, carrying within them a deep symbolism of transformation. In the everyday act of sweeping the floor, we take care for one another, and preserve our shared habitat.
For Brazilian artist Monica Carvalho sweeping is, above all, an expression of respect for the environment. To her, brooms are more than cleaning tools, they are objects filled with care and affection, able to promote well-being and to nurture community life with a profound ecological meaning.
Brazilian artist Monica Carvalho has been working for 27 years with natural materials sourced from Brazil’s six biomes – fruits, seeds, fallen tree trunks, fibers, grasses and more – collected by a network of collaborators in a way that causes minimal impact on the environment.
Statements of the exhibition
