Becoming-Devouring, 2026
In Devir-devorar (Becoming-Devouring), Gabriel Haddad and Leonardo Bora consider drawing and sculpture as a fusion of knowledge and crafts, theory and practice. The sculpture of a winged jaguar, a recurring character in their parades, synthesises the universe created by Rosa Magalhães (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 1947–2024), a Carnival art director who incorporated indigenous symbolism in parades such as Não existe pecado do lado de baixo do Equador (1992) and Catarina de Médicis na corte dos Tupinambôs e Tabajeres (1994), created for samba school Imperatriz Leopoldinense.
In partnership with sculptor Marina Vergara, Haddad and Bora transformed an imaginary character into a sculpture of polystyrene, a material often used in carnival workshops. A video documenting the work’s production stages is projected on a wall, interacting with the jaguar’s shadow. From the polystyrene base to the plastering with wheat paste and kraft paper, the procedures showcase the creative work of Carnival. On the sculpture, the collage of fragments from Rosa’s archive erases and tattoos the eternal devouring of Carnival memories.