Sem título, da série Jatobá / Untitled, from Jatobá series 2022

Editor: This is Rosana Paulino's "Untitled, from Jatobá series" held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a striking image of a woman melded with a tree. What is your interpretation of this piece? Curator: The figure embodies the intertwined relationship between Black women and nature in Brazil, particularly the endangered Jatobá tree. The tree's roots become the woman's legs, visualizing a powerful connection to the earth and ancestral knowledge. Do you notice how the figure holds both a fruit and a sapling? Editor: Yes, it feels like a representation of offering and regeneration. Curator: Exactly. Paulino uses this symbolism to address historical trauma and environmental degradation, suggesting resilience and the possibility of growth despite colonial violence. It makes you wonder about the legacy carried in the land, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I hadn't considered the depth of the environmental message before. Curator: Art can be a powerful catalyst for reflecting on these complex issues.