Jaider Esbell (1979–2021) was a Brazilian Macuxi artist, writer, curator, and activist who played a pivotal role in bringing contemporary Indigenous art to the forefront of Brazil's cultural scene. Born in Normandia, Roraima, within the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory, Esbell initially worked as an electrician before earning a degree in geography and fully dedicating himself to art in 2016. His multidisciplinary practice—encompassing painting, writing, performance, and curation—interwove Indigenous cosmologies, particularly the figure of Makunaimî, with critiques of colonialism and environmental degradation. Esbell coined the term "artivism" to describe his fusion of art and activism, aiming to create "fissures between worlds" that facilitate dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives. He was instrumental in organizing the I Encontro de Todos os Povos (First Meeting of All Peoples) in 2013 and curated the exhibition Moquém_Surarî: Contemporary Indigenous Art at the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art in 2021. His work gained international recognition, featuring in the 34th São Paulo Biennial and posthumously in the 59th Venice Biennale. Esbell's legacy endures as a testament to the power of art in advocating for Indigenous rights and environmental justice.
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