An Existential Path
Marcos Ferreira Batista, 44, hadn’t sketched in more than a decade. But as he settled into a new city while living at a sprawling migrant shelter in Clinton Hill, he felt compelled to draw again, tormented by the faces of migrants whose paths he’d crossed on his two-month long journey from Chile to the United States.
A Show of Artistic Expression
Now Batista’s etchings in charcoal and pencil are part of a show at the Brooklyn megashelter where he lives, run by the city’s Health and Hospitals Corporation. The agency set up an exhibition space in a vacant room next to a laundry facility in the 10-building complex that houses around 3,200 people.
A Collaboration Born
The collaboration happened organically. Miranda approached staff with a painting he’d sold and was looking for a safe place to store it while the buyer came to retrieve it. Staff were impressed and circulated pictures of the artwork among shelter leadership. Other staff then learned about Ferreira Batista’s paintings, which he’d been working on in his shelter room.
Inspiring Creativity
"I’m hoping that we can also do it for other guests," said Santiago Bedoya Velez, the shelter’s director. "Hopefully this inspired them to be able to come out and say, ‘Hey, I am a painter as well, I am a singer. I write music.’ Not to be afraid of using their talent to pursue their dreams," he said.
The Art of Marcos Ferreira Batista and Roger Miranda
Batista’s work in the exposition depicts intimate portraits mainly of young children, including one young girl crying who he’d been told was recently raped in Panama while crossing through the jungle and another whose face is partially submerged in the waters of the Rio Grande.
The Light of the Sun
In each portrait, Batista starts with mostly blackened paper, with the faces emerging from the shadows through rays of light in white. It’s a style Batista traces back to his childhood. Raised in a strict household in northern Brazil, Batista said he was often punished by being sent to kneel in a dark room.
From the Shadows to the Light
But even in the darkness, "there was always a little light, the light of the sun," he told THE CITY in Spanish. Those glimmers of light were there when he made his way north last year from Chile, after spending about 15 years running the lights and sounds for a circus traveling around South America.
Roger Miranda’s Journey
Brazilian artist Marcos Ferreira Batista stands near the artwork on display at the Clinton Hill shelter, Oct. 3, 2024.
Across from Ferreira Batista’s artwork is that of Miranda, who’s brought glimpses of the ivory tower to his shelter cot. "As a humanist, as a painter, I shouldn’t have taken this path," he said in Spanish. Miranda was drawn to art as a pre-teen, and painted and taught art history, graphic design, drawing for three decades before leaving Venezuela in 2016, as the reliability of his job as an academic began to implode along with the country’s economic collapse.
A Future for the Arts
Batista hopes to one day compile his artwork and written remembrances of his journey into a book. Miranda hopes to work on larger canvases "so I can really express my technical, historical and philosophical knowledge, which complements the trajectory of my 47-year-long career," he added. He also hopes his artwork might inspire young kids at the shelter to apply themselves to their new lives in New York City, and dedicate themselves to their studies.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Batista and Miranda is a testament to the power of art to bring people together and inspire creativity, even in the most challenging of circumstances. As Bedoya Velez noted, their work is an example of the importance of pursuing one’s passion and talent, and not being afraid to use it to pursue one’s dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did the collaboration between Batista and Miranda come about?
A: The collaboration happened organically, when Miranda approached staff with a painting he’d sold and was looking for a safe place to store it while the buyer came to retrieve it.
Q: What is the purpose of the exhibition?
A: The exhibition is meant to showcase the artistic talents of the two artists and to provide a space for them to express themselves creatively.
Q: How did Batista get his start in art?
A: Batista got his start in art as a child, when he was often punished by being sent to kneel in a dark room. He started using light to bring life to his artwork, and has been perfecting his craft ever since.
Q: What is Miranda’s background in art?
A: Miranda has a background in art, having taught art history, graphic design, and drawing for three decades before leaving Venezuela in 2016.
