Urso de Óculos

Clarice Lispector is Medicine for the soul.

The Spectacled Bear went on the road this week, to see the 15th Bahia Art Show at Salvador’s wonderful Modern Art Museum (MAM).

The show brings together prize-winning artists from all over Brazil, previously exhibited in various Public and Private Cultural Initiatives in Bahia. It’s a great opportunity for the population of Salvador to see some excellent contemporary art (entry is free), and the event aims to encourage open dialogues about the best in Brazilian visual arts.

Housed in the breathtaking Solar de Unhão, the museum is worth a visit just for the venue. As well as hosting exhibitions, workshops, seminars, an art library and a sculpture park, MAM also contains one of Bahia’s best kept secrets – the most charming bar in Salvador and the best place for a sunset drink.

Of the 17 exhibits in this year’s show, one piece caught the Spectacled Bear’s eye more than any other:

Clarice (Capsules), Proust (Tablets), Camus (Tablets) by São Paulo based Camille Kachani.

Kachani’s work reflects on the idea of thought and poetry as a remedy for the soul. His huge medicine packets made from laminated paper and wood offer the musings of three great 20th century thinkers: Marcel Proust, Albert Camus and Brazilian existentialist writer Clarice Lispector.

The show runs in Salvador until the 5th of March, with Kachani’s piece on show again in Rio later this year. If you can’t get to see it for yourself, check out these pictures, and remember: There are EIGHT pharmacies in Itacaré, but you can only get Clarice L at Urso de Óculos.

Come and soothe your soul.