Tutu

Laura Lima
Tutu, 2023
Raw cotton threads dyed by natural pigments and wire
Work: 143 x 133 x 21 cm

Tutu (or Tutu Marambá) is similar to other figures of the Brazilian folklore that scare children, such as Bo da Cara Preta, Bicho Papão and Cuca. Its origin is European, but on Brazilian soil it was transformed and gained its name as an influence from African culture, since “tutu” comes from “quitutu”, a word of Angolan origin that means “ogre”. The creature is described as quarrelsome, robust and covered in fur. In other variations, it has an undefined body. Raw cotton threads dyed by natural pigments (indigo, red cabbage, black beans, crajiru, spinach, parsley, coffee, mate tea, wine, chamomile, turmeric, hibiscus) and steel wire