Yasa'i

Work in progress

Belem is considered the Açaí (or yasa'i in Tupi language) city, a typical Amazonia fruit. It is the gateway of the Amazon river, one of the most relevant routes in Brazil's economy due to its privileged geographical position. Since a great crisis hit the latex industry in the early 20th century, the region's poverty and insecurity has increased. This situation is now slowly turning, due to the growing global consumption of Açaí berry. Until recently, this fruit's consumption was pretty much a local phenomenon and a defining identity trait. But today its classification as one of the so called superfoods is leading to an increasing demand from European, Asian and North American markets, particularly from the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The aim of yasa'i (a work in progress) is to explore the impact of Açaí's global interest in Belém, addressing the changes in the social, cultural and economical dynamics facing this new context.

Sattva Orasi

Sattva Orasi is a Brazilian photographer graduated in Media Education by the School of Communication and Arts at the University of São Paulo. In 2014 she took part in a cultural exchange program in London, where she also collaborated with Art Institutions. In 2019 she won a scholarship to study History of Art at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She has worked as a photographer for important art institutions such as the Fundação Bienal in São Paulo. Sattva develops personal photographic projects since 2012 in cities such as Belém (BR), Recife (BR), London (UK), Madrid (ES) and Buenos Aires (AR). In her role as an educator, Sattva has taught photography, video making and contemporary art for students at São Paulo municipality, Fundação Bienal and several NGOs.