Exu is an Orixá, a God within the Candomblé religion, the deity closest to humans. Guardian of crossroads, he is the messenger that unites realms. Exu is foundational to Capoeira, his presence is often related to the legend of Besouro de Mangangá.
“Exu killed a bird yesterday with a rock he threw today”, says the ancient proverb. Exu crosses metaphysical boundaries and plays with the concept of time and space. His written name contains crossroads. Exu lifts bridges within our different selves.
Inspired by the proverb above, this research-art work aims to confront the linear concept of time with and through the mask(s) of E(X)U. It seeks to empower Brazilians, resist colonial oppression, and question imperial impositions of time and space.
The research-creation methodology is inspired by traditional Brazilian raft-making and sailing philosophies. Masks, poetry, performance, and video are the artistic planks bound together at a crossroads to create this work.