Description

Dancing with the Tupinambá is a collection between photographer Fernanda Liberti and indigenous artist activist Glicéria Tupinambá. Glicéria is the first person in over three hundread years to make a Tupinambá Cape, a pre-colonial sacred garment that is a central point of spiritual connection and power for the community. Before her creation, there were only a few capes left in the world, all sitting in European collections for the last centuries. The image represents the force of the Majé, the female version of the Pajé (spiritual leader). Since all of the accounts of the pre-colonisation Tupinambá was done by 1500s European men, the role of woman is completely underdescribed in their accounts. Although there was no official literature that confirmed the female presence in relationship to the capes, Glicéria was always a firm believer in their power and presence, not only in the making of them but also in their authority to wear them.