ARTIST STATEMENT
The story of moqueca capixaba and the pot in which it’s served is one of indigenous traditions that become an intangible cultural heritage. Moqueca is a fish stew and the traditional dish of Espirito Santo, Brasil. Capixaba is the term for people from the state (ES). Moqueca is cooked and served in a pot called panela de barro (a clay pot). These pots are handmade in Goiabeiras, Vitoria, ES, by the Paneleiras de Goiabeiras, an association of artisans who carry on the tradition of clay pot-making passed down for over 400 years by their families using indigenous techniques from Tupi-Guarani and Una cultural legacies. This artifact is so ingrained in the region’s culture that it has become a part of the visual landscape of the region. Moqueca is always served in these pots, you find them represented in murals at the airport and stacked on shelves at rest stops to be sold. Although so engrained into the social fabric of its local place, the practice is continuously threatened by everyday urbanization in the region. Food is a cultural legacy passed down through generations. As the American daughter of a Brasilian mother from Espirito Santo, I explore my own familial history through the food and traditions of this region through collage that utilizes my own documentation of my mother’s cooking, visits to the association of Paneleiras de Goiabeiras, and family artifacts such as my grandma’s recipe book passed down to me.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Victoria Gerson is a designer, researcher, and educator from Miami, FL. She has Brasilian heritage and comes from a line of teachers who inspired her to become an educator. She is based in Gainesville, FL, and teaches undergraduate and graduate graphic design courses at the University of Florida. Previously, she was a Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Houston. Victoria received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Florida, and a Master in Graphic Design from North Carolina State University. She uses collage to respond to socio-political issues within the classroom and as a personal practice. Her work and research explore localized techniques, traditions, and cultural heritage.
© Victoria Gerson