Do you know „cabaças“?

„Cabaça“ is a pumpkin that tastes very bitter, hence it is uneatable. The skin of the cabaça is hard, rigid and was used previously as a kitchen bowl. Nowadays, with plastics and other modern materials in use the cabaça as a kitchen device has receded and eventually vanished alltogether.

“Bonecas” are made from cabaças, whereby it is crucial to harvest the pumpkin at exactly the right time: the pumpkin must be ripe but not overripe (to avoid decay), and the leaves must be completely dry.

Upon harvesting the cabaça needs to be dried in the sun for one to two months. Once dried it is being hollowed-out and its interior being thoroughly polished. The skin is finally treated for conservation.

We’ve reached the phase of design: papier-mâché and modelling material are used to form head, arms, hair and other details.

Again all materials need to be dried entirely so that, in the final phase, the artist applies colours and the gorgeous, colourful Boneca becomes a precious décor item that brings with it the Brazilian sun and way of living.

© Copyright für den deutschen Text / englischen Text :  KaSA Kunst aus Sued-Amerika