Ciro Fernandes

Origin

Uiraúna, PB

Also known as

Ciro de Uirauna

Years Active

1950s–present

Genres

woodcut, illustration, painting, poetry

Biography

Ciro Fernandes, known artistically as Ciro de Uiraúna, was born on January 31, 1942, in the city of Uiraúna, in the backwoods of Paraíba. Descended from a lineage of northeastern artisans, Ciro showed a talent for drawing since childhood, using rustic materials for his first creations. The drought of 1958 led him to Natal and, later, at the age of 17, he moved to São Paulo in search of opportunities, where he worked as a laborer and house painter.

His artistic journey took a new turn when he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where at the São Cristóvão Fair, an important stronghold of northeastern culture, he began producing woodcuts for cordel poets. This initiative was crucial to rescuing the tradition of illustrating pamphlets with original art, in contrast to the growing use of photographs. Ciro refined his technique with masters such as Zé Altino and attended renowned studios, such as Augusto Rodrigues's, in addition to studying lithography and metal engraving. His work is deeply connected to northeastern culture, cordel literature, and popular beliefs.

In addition to his work as an engraver and illustrator, Ciro Fernandes is also a poet and painter. He has illustrated book covers for renowned Brazilian authors such as Orígenes Lessa, Raquel de Queiroz, and Gilberto Freire, as well as for albums by artists like Zé Ramalho and Sérgio Ricardo. He received the Machado de Assis Award from the Brazilian Academy of Letters for his work on the book "Cordelinho". His works are part of important collections, such as that of the National Museum of Fine Arts, and he is recognized for portraying Brazilian life and identity with a dramatic and passionate expressionism.