This week we caught up with Adele Pereira, an Emory Sophomore and multimedia artist to learn about her inspiration and artistic development.
First, tell us a bit about yourself!
Where are you from? What year are you at Emory? What are you studying? What kind of art do you make?
Hi, I’m Adele - a multimedia artist and sophomore at Emory. I started drawing before I can remember, and performing arts shortly followed. I am studying Business and co-majoring in Integrated Visual Arts. My main medium is dance, but I also love drawing, singing, and graphic design!
From where do you draw inspiration?
Music definitely plays an enormous role in my life. As a dancer and singer, it quite literally defines the majority of my work. My sculpture professor last semester would play Ethiopian Jazz, which I had never listened to before. I think it helped my work by offering me a new experience that I could translate to art. Music, especially in other languages, is my go-to for inspiration because of the stark contrast across genres. We limit our art when we limit our listening.
If you could have dinner with an artist (alive or dead) who would it be? Why?
I have always had a special appreciation for Frida Kahlo. Many artists shy away from self portraiture, as it is an uncomfortable form of inflection. I think it took courage for her to unwrap her identity and create these raw, beautiful pieces we are left with today. I admire her ability to depict trauma through a personal lenses and I am grateful that she allowed us to perceive her through it.
When did you begin practicing Bharatanatyam Dance? What role does this form of expression play in your life?
I began learning Bharatanatyam at age 5 and completed my arangetram (solo debut) at 18. What many do not understand about Bharatanatyam is that it is highly intellectual. It is a Hindu dance, deeply rooted in religious storytelling. As a dancer, you are obligated to create “rasa,” a complex definition of the sort of aesthetic flavor or “essence” you experience as an audience member. As a non-Hindu, much of what we depict was completely new to me and I found it difficult to evoke the right emotion. With years of practice, I have learned to cultivate a relationship between myself and the stories I tell first, then offer it to others. It is really a process of empathy that I try to apply in every facet of life.
I noticed you work in a variety of media from dance to sculpture and charcoal on paper--do you have a favorite form of art at the moment?
My favorite medium at the moment is fabric paint! It’s nothing special, but experimenting with paint and clothes is exciting.
One piece of art on your website caught my eye--it depicts a loaf of bread stitched together with lucky charm marshmallows between slices. What inspired this unique piece? What message are you hoping to convey?
This piece was part of a multi-media sculpture assignment from last semester. I ended up working with a loaf of bread and cereal, courtesy of the DCT. This piece really challenged me to work with uncommon materials, but also humor. I think the premise of sewing bread is what people enjoy about this piece. It definitely taught me that the process is just as important as the product, even for the observers!
I would also love to know what has become of it, since I haven’t seen it since March.
How has your art shaped your experience at Emory?
I actually endured a leg injury in the beginning of my time at Emory, which forced me out of my comfort zone and into new artistic territory. The nature of the pandemic and online learning has also left me feeling disconnected from a normal life. Art has been a great way for me to heal both physically and emotionally as we continue through these turbulent times.
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