Close Window

Claudinho

"Claudelino Cirilo da Cunha, Claudinho, was born in Ouro Preto in the state of Minas Gerais, renowned for its rich variety of gems and beautiful stones.

"I come from a family of 11 siblings and now I'm married and I have two children. Following in my oldest brother's footsteps, I began as an apprentice to my father carving soapstone figures. Soon I was dedicating all of my own time to artistic endeavors.

"My work has now grown, and I'm in a position to offer jobs to other carvers in my community. I must give a special mention to Wilson and Paulo Sergio, they are amazing with figurative and abstract sculptures respectively.

"I would love to be able to pass down to my son all my knowledge and techniques regarding soapstone carving. But unfortunately I can see that the younger generation isn't interested in preserving traditional art forms such as this one, and I'm afraid that it will get lost with time. If it were within my means, I would do all that I could to ensure the preservation and the continuity of this valuable soapstone art.