Batuque (2016)
It was made through digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, laser engraving, sensor integration and handcraft embellishment with beads and intricated patterns. The result is a wearable piece that captures the magical essence of Candomblé rituals and the playful enjoyment of interactive performance art.
The project was made possible through the support of the Made@EU Residencies, a program dedicated to fostering creativity and experimentation through emerging technologies. This program provides artists with the resources and space to explore innovative ideas and bring them to life. For more information about the program and its impact on the project, visit Made@EU.
Batuque is a performance that draws inspiration from Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian spiritual tradition rooted in African diasporic culture. In Candomblé, entities known as orixás are embodied by practitioners through rituals that often involve wearing specific garments, enabling participants to transcend into another spiritual dimension.
The term Batuque carries historical and cultural significance. Before the 19th century, it was commonly used to refer to Afro-Brazilian religious practices, many of which served as precursors to Candomblé. Additionally, batuque is deeply tied to Brazilian heritage, symbolising rhythmic drumming and percussion—a hallmark of African musical influence that remains central to Brazilian cultural expressions.
In this performance, the wearer transforms into an entity imbued with an augmented sensory experience. The costume acts as a bridge between the physical and the ethereal, equipped with wearable sensors and actuators that allow it to sense and respond to the surrounding auditory environment. The garment's "skin" detects sound and translates it into movements on its surface, similar to goosebumps, which frequently appear in my work.