Capturing the Landscape of Northeast Brazil on Canvas

At the Teatro Deodoro cultural complex in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil, Simone Freitas' third solo exhibition, 'Entre o mar e o sertão, tem o mangue' (Between the Sea and the Sertão, There Is the Mangrove)', opened on July 15 at 7 PM.

This exhibition features new paintings that reinterpret three iconic landscapes of Northeast Brazil—the arid inland sertão, the coastal mangrove forests (mangue), and the sea (mar). Rather than depicting these regions realistically, the artist presents them as symbolic and sensorial landscapes filtered through memory and emotion.

An Artistic Journey Beginning with Storefront Painting

Simone Freitas, who studied architecture and urban planning at the Federal University of Alagoas, began her art career as a self-taught artist. "I started by painting storefronts and recycling discarded paper. Everything became real when I got my first clients," she recalls.

Since her first solo exhibition 'Através do a(mar)' (Through the a(mar))' at the Alagoas Image and Sound Museum (MISA) in 2018, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the 'Alagoas Creative Circuit' at the Jundiaí Historical Museum in São Paulo, 'Urbanografia' (2019) at Gamma Gallery in Maceió, and the 'Touring Exhibition' (2024) at Casa Tatu in São Paulo.

She has also been active on the international stage, showcasing her work at 'Le Carrousel du Louvre' at the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2022 and the Brussels International Contemporary Art Salon in Belgium.

A Visual Warning Against Environmental Destruction

The 113 works in this exhibition go beyond mere aesthetic experience, prompting reflection on the relationship between nature, the city, and society. Layered brushstrokes and vibrant colors translate the complexity of Alagoas' ecosystem into intimate and sensorial images.

"Changes in our environment stem from failed urban planning, economic interests that disregard the public good, and inappropriate use of natural resources. Rivers, the sertão, and mangrove forests are not simply water, land, and plants. They are paths, life, and home," the artist emphasizes.

Curator Iranei Barreto notes, "Simone Freitas' work reveals an ethical and poetic gesture. By deconstructing landscapes, she reconstructs belonging, ancestry, and bonds with nature. This exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with the spaces they occupy, proposing listening, care, and re-being."

The exhibition space design was handled by Daniel Cavalcante, and the visual identity by Weber Bagetti. Realized with support from the Brazilian federal government's Aldir Blanc Law (Lei Aldir Blanc) and Alagoas State's Department of Culture and Creative Economy (Secult), this exhibition is free admission and runs through August 15.

Exhibition Information

• Title: Entre o mar e o sertão, tem o mangue (Between the Sea and the Sertão, There Is the Mangrove)
• Artist: Simone Freitas
• Location: Teatro Deodoro Cultural Complex Gallery (Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil)
• Period: July 15 – August 15, 2025
• Admission: Free
• Curator: Iranei Barreto