Normandia, Brazil, 1979.
Lives and works in Boa Vista, Brazil.
Jaider Esbell, Makushi, born in Normandia, Roraima State, Brazil. He stayed in his birthplace, where now comprises Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, until he was 18. Esbell has his first experiences with art since early childhood, when awarded his first prize (drawing) in a contest at Kanauani Indigenous Community in Roraima. Still in his adolescence, he gets in touch with social movements and witnesses the resistance fights of indigenous people in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land. In 1998 he moves to Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima State.
Esbell was born in a rich ambience for arts and shows himself skilful with literary writing. His affinity with literary tradition comes from his early childhood, since his indigenous grandfather used to tell him tales on his ancestors knowledge. In 2010 he receives a grant for literary written creation by FUNARTE/MinC (Art Foundation/Ministry of Culture Affairs). This grant results in the publication in Portuguese of his first short stories book entitled MAKUNAIMA’S BACKYARD – Miths, Legends, and Lived Stories in 2012. This book represents the consolidation of his work on art and education, which has been undertaken autonomously in schools, including indigenous ones.
In 2011 Esbell retakes his work with acrylic painting, in an autodidact manner, and has his first exhibition in his hometown, Normandia, entitled ‘CABOCAGEM – The Man in the Landscape’. His literature and artworks, including poetry, photography and videos, have taken him to an avant-garde position in the state. Still, he has been carrying out activities as cultural producer, art educator and lecturer in art, literature and environment management and sustainable development.
Environmental Issues
2012
-He is given a monetary prize in a national forum granted by Eletrobras/Eletronorte (national public energy distribution company) for actions regarding the Act of Agreement with IBAMA\Prevfogo (national public department for environmental preservation issues), especially for the work at Pacaraima indigenous brigade in Roraima.
2010
-Gives a lecture on Environment Management Systems at UFRR.
2008
-Gives a lecture on Impacts of Hydropower Plants at the Federal University of Roraima – UFRR.
2002 to 2005
-Gives lectures on Environment and Society at public schools in Boa Vista, Roraima.
Arts and Literature
2016
-Implements (coordinator) the project THE MEETING OF ALL PEOPLES (3rd edition) – Native Landscape and Diversity, which comprises group exhibition held by União Operária Space of Art and Culture of UFRR.
2015
-Has exhibition comprising works of CABOCAGEM, and new paintings, held by Patio Roraima Mall, in Boa Vista.
-Gives painting workshop in Maturuca Indigenous Community, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, Roraima State.
-Takes part on ¡MIRA! – Indigenous Visual Arts, international group exhibition, comprising artists from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru held by Galpao Paraiso Gallery, Minas Gerais State.
2014
– Gives the lecture Contemporary Amazon Art on a roundtable held by Pitzer College.
-Takes part (assistant professor) on the course Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture held by Pitzer College.
-Gives the lecture INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CONTEMPORARY ART – The World as a Common Place held by the University of California – San Bernardino/UCLA.
-Implements (coordinator) the project THE MEETING OF ALL PEOPLES (2nd edition) – Kariawa, My Neighbour, which comprises group exhibition held by União Operária Space of Art and Culture of UFRR.
-Gives painting workshop in Barata Indigenous Community, Roraima State.
2013-2014
-Co-teaches Run to The Forest (a hybrid Anthropology and Studio Art course) with Professor Lêda Martins, at Pitzer College.
2013
-Implements (as coordinator) the project THE MEETING OF ALL PEOPLES (1st edition) – THE REINVENTION OF TIME IN MAKUNAIMA GRANDCHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVE – Roraima Indigenous Artists and Their Cosmovisions in Contemporary Visual Arts, which comprises group exhibition held by União – -Operária Space of Art and Culture of UFRR in Roraima State.
-Launches AUGUST AFTERNOONS, SEPTEMBER MORNINGS, OCTOBER NIGHTS, his second literature book.
-Takes part on CATTLE IN THE AMAZON: Despised Invaders to Prized Possessions, group exhibition of indigenous artists held by União Operária Space of Art and Culture of UFRR.
-Takes part on ¡MIRA! – Indigenous Visual Arts, international itinerant group exhibition in Minas Gerais State, comprising artists from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, held by the Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG, with an edition in Brasília (the Federal University of Brasília – UnB).
-Has THE TREE OF ALL KNOWLEDGES, itinerant exhibition/project held by Sikamabiu Indigenous Community in Yanomami Indigenous Land – Roraima State.
-Takes part on CATTLE IN THE AMAZON: Despised Invaders to Prized Possessions, group exhibition of indigenous artists held by Pitzer College, California, USA.
-Takes part on PANAMAZON – 1st Art Show, group exhibition held by the Pan-Amazon Association in Manaus, Amazonas State.
-Takes part on MAKUSHI CULTURE AND MEMORY, digital show held by the Federal University of Santa Maria – UFSM, Porto Alegre State.
2012
-Takes part on the 14th Meeting Point of the Teenager Books National Fair, on a roundtable at Darcy Ribeiro School of Cinema, and on a poetry reading session at the National Library, and presents his short stories book MAKUNAIMA’S BACKYARD – Miths, Legends, and Lived Stories in a collective session at a university in Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ), all activities sponsored by INBRAPI/NEARIN.
-Has exhibition comprising artworks of CABOCAGEM, new paintings and paintings from art workshops in the primary school at Campo Alegre indigenous community as part of the celebration of the indigenous people month held by Boa Vista Mayor`s Office.
-Launches MAKUNAIMA’S BACKYARD, his short stories book, product of the grant for literary written creation by FUNARTE/MinC.
-Produces and curates ILUSTRATED LEGEND, exhibition by Mário Flores, a Taurepang indigenous artist, as part of the celebration of the indigenous people day held by Eletrobras/Eletronorte.
-Takes part on LIVING A WILD LIFE, group exhibition with artists from Mato Grosso State, Brazil, sponsored by FUNARTE/MinC, in Boa Vista.
-Has exhibition comprising works of CABOCAGEM, and new paintings on the theme Environment and Quality of Life at Workplace held by SESI-Roraima.
-Takes part on GENERATIONS, group exhibition of indigenous artists at Terra de Makunaima Space for Art and Culture in Pacaraima, Roraima State.
-Has ÎTEKRE-EKAREMENEN – The Messenger, exhibition which addresses the theme Indigenous Art as a Form of Communication held by Ziembinski Theatre in Rio de Janeiro State.
-Takes part on the performance CATTLE by Ronald Duarte in III ART-RIO (arts international fair) in Rio de Janeiro State.
-Has 2ND JAIDER ESBELL INTEGRATED ARTS EXHIBITION, in Normandia, with the participation of Makushi indigenous people.
-Takes part on INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, group exhibition of indigenous artists held by Casa do Neuber Space for Art and Music in Boa Vista.
-Has INDIGENOUS PEOPLE – I Don’t Care!, exhibition on the 10th edition of Letters Course Academic Week at UFRR.
-Has EXTREMES – The Man, the Space, and the Time, exhibition held by Café do Porto in Porto Alegre State (an opportunity for seeking interaction with people in the south of Brazil, mainly with the Guarani indigenous group).
-Has GROUND OF FACTORY, exhibition held by SESI-Roraima.
-Produces the panel KNOWLEDGE AND DIGNITY, a donation to UFRR.
-Has REFLEXES OF ANCESTRY, exhibition in homage to indigenous people, sponsored by INBRAPI/NEARIN (Brazilian Institute for Indigenous Intellectual Propriety/Center of Indigenous Writer and Artists), at the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ).
2011
-Retakes his activities with painting (acrylic on canvas).
-Has 1ST JAIDER ESBELL’S INTEGRATED ARTS EXHIBITION, comprising literature, paintings, photography and poetic video works in Normandia, his hometown.
-Has CABOCAGEM – The Man in the Landscape, individual exhibition held by UFRR.
-Gives painting workshops for children in Campo Alegre Indigenous Community’s school in Boa Vista, Roraima State.
2010
-Receives a grant for literary written creation by FUNARTE/MinC.
-Begins art and education activities undertaken through painting workshops in schools in indigenous communities.
-Receives a prize in a poetry contest held by SESI-Roraima (state session of the national department of social services for the industry).
