Photo: Courtesy of Andre Luis Vieira
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
My name’s Andre, I’m Brazilian, living in Brazil.
I am an undergraduate Graphic and Industrial Design student at the USP – University of São Paulo.
Since I was a kid, I love to draw and I always have been really into languages and various scripts. Because I really love to draw, I have a technician degree in Architecture and Interior Design.
I speak Portuguese, English, Spanish and some Japanese and Hebrew.
I can write (and read) the Hebrew alef-beit, Japanese kanji, hiragana and katakana, Korean Hangul and some Chinese Hanzi.
I am a Jew that goes almost every week to the synagogue, I am affiliated to an independent Kabbalistic synagogue in my hometown and to the Masorti movement.
I sold my art 3x in my entire life, so I am quite new to that.
I have been practicing Hebrew calligraphy for a good time now, but I don’t have many works done.
What inspired you to become an artist?
The nature, the city, everything that is surrounding us. Since I was a kid I was amazed by the perception of our reality and by creating another reality on the paper.
What is your specialty?
Drawing, sketching and calligraphy.
How and where do you work?
First, I do as if I was cooking, the mise-en-place, get all the material together and well organized. I like to doodle a lot, so the ideas flow from my mind to the paper sheet. After many doodles, notations, scribbles and so on, I start to polish my idea before I create it on a blank paper. I usually do not use erasers, as I don’t like to erase those little imperfections from a handmade art.
I usually work at home, in my own house.
What is the most indispensable item in your studio space?
A wide, free table!
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
My inspiration mainly comes from the observations of my surroundings and my own life, what I am feeling, thinking or planning. My themes usually are focused on working with words that gives people good messages – and some religious ones, too.
Do you do bespoke work?
Yes!
What projects are you currently working on?
Now I am creating a black and white squared mandala with the word Linshom (breathe) on it.
What is your favourite item in your current collection?
My first xylograph piece! It means so much to me.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
I know when I smile looking at the result.
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
A xylograph piece made with red ink portraying two holding hands
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
The actual squared mandala, I am loving it!
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
I want to improve my work, and I hope that I can be selling it internationally and be well-known in the Jewish community and use this visibility for worthy causes. I also want to do an academic research in Hebrew calligraphy, be able to show it in an expo and as I said before, give a good message to people.
Where can we find your work?
Actually I just started, so I have my Instagram account, the user name is @aviel_katan.
Photos: Courtesy of Andre Luis Vieira
