A Lenda da Araucária

About this artwork

Three elements in a state of extinction, the indigenous people, the Araucaria Angustifolia tree, reduced to less than 3% of existence in the last century, and the blue bird, Gralha Azul, known for being the main responsible for the existence of the Araucária forests, making the planting the seed known as pinhão. The legend of Araucária, a thorny tree typical of southern Brazil, is the story that inspired this work. The story is about an Indian who falls in love with an Indian from a rival tribe. They used to mata secretly in the forest, until the day the Indian was attacked by a jaguar. As a crafty hunter, he eliminated the threat, but found his beloved dead in the jungle. When carrying her in his arms to his village, the enemy Indians, thinking he was responsible for the tragedy, shot him with their arrows. The Indian became Araucaria, the thorns are the arrows. His beloved became the Gralha Azul, and the fruit, the pinion, is the drops of blood of her beloved. This work arouses interest in these elements and I hope it also arouses the desire to preserve this natural heritage for the world.