Created especially for the temporary exhibition gallery of the Botanical Garden Museum, the installation Utopia Botânica poetically recreates a fragmented forest of brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata). A symbol of the Atlantic Forest, this species was brought to the brink of extinction during the colonial period due to the intense exploitation of its red pigment and remains threatened today.
Conceived specifically for the exhibition, the work is composed of seven double panels made from pieces of cotton canvas, hand-dyed and stitched with threads also dyed using brazilwood. The pigment, obtained sustainably and following historical recipes, presents color variations ranging from deep red to orange and violet.
By combining ancient knowledge with contemporary techniques, the works highlight brazilwood as a symbol of the country’s ecological and cultural history. More than an artistic expression, the installation invites reflection on preservation, memory, and the possible futures of the Atlantic Forest.