An installation by artists Lua and Maria Marta

​

“Escudos de Cor e Fé” (Shields of Color and Faith) is a collaborative installation by artists Lua and Maria Marta, exploring the concept of adornment as a form of spiritual resistance, cultural memory, and aesthetic power in the urban peripheries of Rio de Janeiro.

 

Conceived by Lua, who invited Maria Marta to join the project, the work reimagines protective objects, as sacred artifacts of daily ritual and resilience, blending Afro-Brazilian spirituality with contemporary urban culture.

​

In the suburbs of Rio, protection is both visual and tactile. Bodies become altars, homes become sanctuaries, and adornment becomes a means of spiritual defense. These objects, often handmade and deeply personal, carry both faith and protection. Rooted in Afro-Brazilian syncretism and popular Catholicism, they are symbols of survival and connection to ancestral wisdom.

​

The installation is not simply an exhibition of objects; it is an immersive environment that invites viewers to step into a world where spiritual protection is embodied through color, material, and form. The adornments, suspended and displayed in the gallery space, create a sensory experience where every element is imbued with intention and meaning. These objects are not passive; they are active participants in the ongoing rituals of survival, resilience, and faith.

​

Escudos de Cor e Fé offers a powerful reminder of the importance of adornment as an act of protection. In a world where spiritual and cultural practices are often threatened, the work of Lua and Maria Marta highlights the vital role of art and tradition in preserving identity and power.

 

To adorn is to protect. To believe is to resist. And to create is to heal.