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Ernani Silva, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has developed a distinctive style focusing on abstraction with Brazilian and African elements. Silva’s works reflect Brazilian cultural influence of African, Indian and European descent. Silva developed a distinctive painterly style that reflects mystical life of the Afro-Brazilian and Natives from the Amazon. His work also reflects his native community, where Samba, Bossanova, and the Girls from Ipanema originated. Growing up in a settlement originally populated by African runaway slaves, Silva began painting at age fourteen and soon became convinced that painting was his destiny.
Discovering that being an artist was his calling, Ernani ran away from home to Bahia, “the backdoor of Yoruba and Condomble”, as he calls it, a reference to the African based religion and its ceremonies and rituals. Enjoying the culture that Bahia offered, Ernani worked on improving his technique and in 1989 migrated to the United States. Since then in his own words his work has become “less primitive”, yet continues to reflect his homeland of Brazil in its various forms, feelings and moods. Ernani’s works are mystical, filled with the rhythm of Brazil and infused with tremendous color.
As Ernani Silva continues his journey as a professional artist with over thirty years of experience, his semi –abstract paintings continue to evoke the cultural content of his native Brazil together with his African and Indian heritage. Ernani continues to produce work in series and is particularly known for his “Carnival” and “Women Against The Wind” series. “Striking colors, rhythm and movement- at times he becomes a choreographer and purposefully directs the figures on the canvas and at other times, he is a storyteller documenting elements of his culture and folklore or an activist fighting for the preservation of a disappearing people – all combined to produce a very visceral response for the viewer.” Private collectors include: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Edward Kennedy, Actress Ruby Dee, House of Dereon Designer Tina Knowles, Actor Andy Garcia and Jazz Singer Cassandra Wilson.
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