SELF CONNECTIONS - MEMORIES
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1
CONCEPT
The ÁGUA VIVA WANDERING WORLDS project comprises three series of artists' books inspired by Clarice Lispector's Água Viva:
Água Viva – primary thought, Água Viva – the unknown, and Água Viva – between the lines.
Developed during the 2026 program of M.A.L.A. – Morada Andarilha de Livros de Artista, the series take as their starting point the theme "vagar mundo” [wandering the world]. The proposition resonated deeply with my central subject: identity. It led me to reflect on the movement intrinsic to existence, on the search for self-knowledge and for meaning. The diaspora in my own family has led me to constantly seek to understand this process. The quest for self-knowledge is not a personal matter but a universal necessity—an attempt to give meaning to existence.
Developed during the 2026 program of M.A.L.A. – Morada Andarilha de Livros de Artista, the series take as their starting point the theme "vagar mundo” [wandering the world]. The proposition resonated deeply with my central subject: identity. It led me to reflect on the movement intrinsic to existence, on the search for self-knowledge and for meaning. The diaspora in my own family has led me to constantly seek to understand this process. The quest for self-knowledge is not a personal matter but a universal necessity—an attempt to give meaning to existence.
I also see in Clarice's Água Viva this same search for identity — a journey of discovery, a way of knowing and finding oneself. From this resonance with my own wandering of the world, I selected words and phrases from the book. Based on the Brazilian edition, I translated the excerpts into English, Spanish, and French. I sought to dive into the running water of her loose narrative, without a visible destination, and let myself be carried away, imbuing myself with her gesture of freedom to produce the works.
An audio piece, accessible via QR Code, accompanies the works. In it, I recite the selected excerpts from Clarice's book.
I understand wandering-the-world as being in the present. Like Clarice Lispector in Água Viva, I renounce control in the immediate act of producing the monotypes and paintings, to open space for the encounter with the other. The intention is to allow the "I" to dissolve and reconstitute itself, to respond to the narrator by assuming the role of "you".
An audio piece, accessible via QR Code, accompanies the works. In it, I recite the selected excerpts from Clarice's book.
I understand wandering-the-world as being in the present. Like Clarice Lispector in Água Viva, I renounce control in the immediate act of producing the monotypes and paintings, to open space for the encounter with the other. The intention is to allow the "I" to dissolve and reconstitute itself, to respond to the narrator by assuming the role of "you".
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO WHILE EXPERIENCING THE WORKS
Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
English version
Spanish version
Portuguese version
ÁGUA VIVA - PRIMARY THOUGHT - VOL. 1
DESCRIPTION
Excerpts from the Brazilian edition of Clarice Lispector’s Água Viva book were translated into English, Spanish and French by the artist. Monotypes, transfers, and excerpts hand-painted in acrylic on both sides of 52 crumpled 6" x 8.5" vellum sheets were assembled with a custom binding into four booklet volumes.
This work is part of the artist book exhibition Wandering Worlds at Galeria Amorada in Buenos Aires.
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book front cover
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book back cover
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book binding detail
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book binding detail
Água Viva – primary thought – Vol. 1
Closed: 6 x 8.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 6 x 16 x 2 in (H x W)
104 pages
Cover: monotypes and paintings on Arches Platine 310gsm paper
Book block: monotypes, transfers and acrylic paintings on 35g vellum paper, 6 x 8.5 in
Materials: 35g vellum paper, Arches Platine 310gsm paper, acrylic paint, acrylic gel
Technique: monotype and transfer with gelli plate, painting, custom artist binding
Waccabuc, NY
2026
Unique
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 1, 2026, artist book open pages.
ÁGUA VIVA - THE UNKNOWN - VOL. 1
DESCRIPTION
The acrylic plates used in the production of the monotypes for the artist’s book series Água Viva – primary thought, with their remaining paint residues, are gathered in an accordion format and constitute the new series Água Viva – the unknown.
This work is part of the artist book exhibition Wandering Worlds at Galeria Amorada in Buenos Aires.
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1
Closed: 12.5 x 12.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 12.5 x 31.5 x 12.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
8 pages
Materials: 4 sheets of 1/8 clear extruded acrylic 12 x 12 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1, front and back of plate 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1, front and back of plate 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1, front and back of plate 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 1, front and back of plate 4
ÁGUA VIVA - BETWEEN THE LINES - VOL. 1
DESCRIPTION
Água Viva – between the lines is a series of three works. Each accordion-fold artist’s book is composed of 12 double-sided 1/16-inch clear acrylic plates measuring 4 x 4 inches. By painting vortices with acrylic paint and inscribing selected excerpts from Água Viva by Clarice Lispector, the artist sought to transcribe the experience of being drawn into the whirlpools of her narrative. This work was developed during the M.A.L.A. residency program 2026.
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 1, front and back view
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 1
Closed: 4 x 4.5 x 2.5 in (H x W x D)
Open: 4 x 39 x 3.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
24 pages
Materials: 12 double sheets of 1/16 clear extruded acrylic 4 x 4 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 1, details
ÁGUA VIVA - PRIMARY THOUGHT - VOL. 2
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 2, 2026, artist book front and back cover
Água Viva – primary thought – Vol. 2
Closed: 6 x 8 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 6 x 16 x 2 in (H x W)
106 pages
Cover: monotypes and paintings on Arches Platine 310gsm paper
Book block: monotypes, transfers and acrylic paintings on 35g vellum paper, 6 x 8.5 in
Materials: 35g vellum paper, Arches Platine 310gsm paper, acrylic paint, acrylic gel
Technique: monotype and transfer with gelli plate, painting, custom artist binding
Waccabuc, NY
2026
Unique
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 2, 2026, open pages.
ÁGUA VIVA - THE UNKNOWN - VOL. 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2
Closed: 12.5 x 12.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 12.5 x 31.5 x 12.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
8 pages
Materials: 4 sheets of 1/8 clear extruded acrylic 12 x 12 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2, front and back of plate 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2, front and back of plate 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2, front and back of plate 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 2, front and back of plate 4
ÁGUA VIVA - BETWEEN THE LINES - VOL. 2
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 2
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 2
Closed: 4 x 4.5 x 2.5 in (H x W x D)
Open: 4 x 39 x 3.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
24 pages
Materials: 12 double sheets of 1/16 clear extruded acrylic 4 x 4 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 2, details.
ÁGUA VIVA - PRIMARY THOUGHT - VOL. 3
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 3, 2026, artist book front and back cover
Água Viva – primary thought – Vol. 3
Closed: 6 x 8 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 6 x 16 x 2 in (H x W)
106 pages
Cover: monotypes and paintings on Arches Platine 310gsm paper
Book block: monotypes, transfers and acrylic paintings on 35g vellum paper, 6 x 8.5 in
Materials: 35g vellum paper, Arches Platine 310gsm paper, acrylic paint, acrylic gel
Technique: monotype and transfer with gelli plate, painting, custom artist binding
Waccabuc, NY
2026
Unique
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 3, 2026, open pages.
ÁGUA VIVA - THE UNKNOWN - VOL. 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3
Closed: 12.5 x 12.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 12.5 x 31.5 x 12.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
8 pages
Materials: 4 sheets of 1/8 clear extruded acrylic 12 x 12 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3, front and back of plate 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3, front and back of plate 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3, front and back of plate 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 3, front and back of plate 4
ÁGUA VIVA - BETWEEN THE LINES - VOL. 3
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 3
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 3
Closed: 4 x 4.5 x 2.5 in (H x W x D)
Open: 4 x 39 x 3.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
24 pages
Materials: 12 double sheets of 1/16 clear extruded acrylic 4 x 4 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – between the lines – Vol. 3
ÁGUA VIVA - PRIMARY THOUGHT - VOL. 4
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 4, 2026, artist book front, binding and back cover
Água Viva – primary thought – Vol. 4
Closed: 6 x 8 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 6 x 16 x 2 in (H x W)
108 pages
Cover: monotypes and paintings on Arches Platine 310gsm paper
Book block: monotypes, transfers and acrylic paintings on 35g vellum paper, 6 x 8.5 in
Materials: 35g vellum paper, Arches Platine 310gsm paper, acrylic paint, acrylic gel
Technique: monotype and transfer with gelli plate, painting, custom artist binding
Waccabuc, NY
2026
Unique
Água Viva - Primary Thought Vol. 4, 2026, open pages.
ÁGUA VIVA - THE UNKNOWN - VOL. 4
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4
Closed: 12.5 x 12.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 12.5 x 31.5 x 12.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
8 pages
Materials: 4 sheets of 1/8 clear extruded acrylic 12 x 12 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4, front and back of plate 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4, front and back of plate 2
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4, front and back of plate 3
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 4, front and back of plate 4
ÁGUA VIVA - THE UNKNOWN - VOL. 5
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 5
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 5
Closed: 12.5 x 12.5 x ¾ in (H x W x D)
Open: 12.5 x 31.5 x 12.5 in (variable - H x W x D)
4 pages
Materials: 2 sheets of 1/8 clear extruded acrylic 12 x 12 in, acrylic paint, fishing line
Technique: acrylic painting, accordion binding
Housing: glassine paper wrap in velvet pouch
2026
Waccabuc, NY
Unique
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 5, front and back of plate 1
Água Viva – the unknown – Vol. 5, front and back of plate 2
