Interview
Fabio Aragão
Fabio Aragão, born in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, is a multidisciplinary artist deeply influenced by the rhythms and traditions of Afro-Brazilian heritage. As a Creative Artistic Director, Filmmaker, Photographer, Choreographer, and Visual Artist, he explores themes of human evolution, spirituality, and identity, striving to create works that capture the essence of the human condition. Based in Paris since 2000, he finds in this cultural crossroads a wellspring of inspiration and reflection that nourishes his artistic approach and enriches his creations with a global perspective. His work is expressed through multiple mediums - contemporary dance, photography, and visual arts - which he uses to construct a unique artistic language. Through the FA Contemporary Dance Company (FA.C.D.C), which he founded, he investigates the boundaries between movement and spirituality. For him, every choreographic gesture and image is a symbol of shared humanity and the capacity to connect beyond cultural or physical limits.
In 2021, Fabio received an Artistic Merit Award at the Luxembourg Art Prize for his series “GENÈSE – Portrait de Famille,” a major recognition that marked a turning point in his career. This accolade reinforced his commitment to exploring the spiritual roots of his Afro-Brazilian heritage and deepening his artistic approach. This quest led to the creation of the series “Carranca,” a work that delves into the mystical world of Umbanda, exploring the duality between the sacred and the profane. Through a bold fusion of photography, drawing, painting, and graphic design, “Carranca” unveils invisible facets of spirituality and highlights the richness of his cultural roots. (International Selection of the Luxembourg Art Prize 2024 - Artistic Merit Award) Today, his project ESSENCE embodies this approach in a hybrid, interdisciplinary work spanning France and Brazil. ESSENCE is a poetic exploration of the four fundamental elements - Water, Earth, Fire, and Air - expressed through contemporary dance, fashion, high-performance sports, and visual arts. Each element represents a facet of the human experience: Earth symbolizes stability and grounding; Water, fluidity and healing; Fire, transformation; and Air, freedom. In creating ESSENCE, Fabio invites the public to reflect on our connection with nature and the elemental forces that shape our lives. Conceived as a poetic journey that blends choreographic performances, fashion creations, and audiovisual works, ESSENCE captures the beauty and power of natural elements. This project embodies Fabio’s aspiration to build bridges between cultures and raise awareness of the diversity of human experience - a way to celebrate our essential bond with nature and to reflect on our place in the world. Throughout his work, Fabio Aragão aspires to transcend cultural boundaries and reveal the spiritual dimensions of human existence. Through his creations, he aims to awaken individual consciousness by offering an immersive artistic experience that celebrates the richness and diversity of our shared humanity.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My artistic journey is deeply connected to my Afro-Brazilian heritage and my quest for meaning through art. I was born in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, a vibrant city where African, European, and Indigenous traditions intertwine. Growing up, I was immersed in an environment where dance, music, and spiritual rituals shaped daily life. From an early age, I was drawn to bodily and visual expression as a way to explore and translate this cultural richness.
Moving to Paris in 2000 was a turning point in my career, allowing me to confront my origins with new influences and develop a more universal artistic vision. In 2002, I had the honor of joining Roland Petit’s company as a principal dancer, performing in productions like Délit d’ivresse and Roland Petit raconte les chemins de la création. This collaboration was decisive in my artistic evolution, encouraging me to explore new creative horizons.
My artistic journey truly took off with contemporary dance, a medium that allowed me to push the boundaries of movement and storytelling. By founding FA Contemporary Dance Company (FA.C.D.C), I sought to explore the relationship between the body, spirituality, and identity. At the same time, my work in photography and visual arts gave me another dimension to express this exploration.
The Luxembourg Art Prize recognition in 2021 - Artistic Merit Award for my series GENÈSE - Portrait de Famille - and again in 2024 for Carranca confirmed my commitment to exploring heritage and memory through various disciplines. Today, my work blends choreography, photography, graphic design, and painting in an interdisciplinary approach that transcends cultural boundaries.”
What inspires you?
“My inspirations are deeply rooted in Afro-Brazilian spirituality, ancestral rituals, and the connection between humans and nature. The Umbanda, Candomblé, and protective symbols like the Carrancas from northeastern Brazil are recurring elements in my work. The philosophy of the four elements - Water, Earth, Fire, and Air - also play a central role in my upcoming project, ESSENCE (2025-2026), where each element represents a different facet of the human experience. The exploration of the body in motion, in connection with these natural forces, is a constant source of inspiration.
Finally, my travels between Brazil and France nourish my perspective and enrich my practice. Paris, with its artistic diversity and cultural vibrancy, continuously pushes me to redefine my visual and choreographic language.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The essence of my work lies in the quest for transcendence and universal connection. It is hybrid, sensory, and transcultural, situated at the intersection of visual arts, performance, and spiritual exploration. Through my works, I aim to reveal what is often invisible: the links between past and present, individual and collective, tangible and spiritual.
My art is an immersive experience, a dialogue between body, image, and material, where each gesture and texture tells a story. I do not limit myself to a single medium; I merge dance, photography, painting, and graphic design to create a unique language that evokes memory, identity, and transformation.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work explores themes of identity, heritage, spirituality, and protection. Whether through GENÈSE - Portrait de Famille, where I question the transmission of Afro-Brazilian roots, or Carranca, which delves into spiritual defense symbols, my art invites reflection on how beliefs and traditions shape our existence.
My message is one of reconciliation between modernity and tradition, the celebration of cultural diversity, and the importance of the sacred in an ever-changing world. Through my projects, I aim to build bridges between different cultures and highlight the richness of the stories that shape our humanity.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My work is influenced by many artists and movements that have shaped my artistic vision. In photography and visual arts, artists like Seydou Keïta, Gordon Parks, and Jean-Michel Basquiat resonate with me due to their visual approach and cultural engagement. In dance and performance, Pina Bausch, Jiří Kylián, and Ohad Naharin have inspired me to see movement as a language that transcends mere choreography.
However, my greatest influences remain the anonymous artisans - the sculptors and painters of the past who, through their work, pass down ancestral knowledge. Brazilian folk art, rich in symbols and narratives, is an endless source of learning for me.
Additionally, Indigenous art and Afro-Brazilian traditions are major inspirations. The Orixás of Candomblé, tribal patterns, and mythological stories of the Tupi and Guarani peoples feed my imagination and deeply influence my aesthetic.”
“My message is one of reconciliation between modernity and tradition, the celebration of cultural diversity, and the importance of the sacred in an ever-changing world.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is experimental and interdisciplinary. I begin with in-depth research - historical, spiritual, or iconographic - to explore the narratives that will guide my work. Then, I often layer different mediums: in photography, I integrate drawing and graphic design; in painting, I experiment with mixed techniques such as ink, spray paint, and digital coloring. In my choreographies, movement is conceived as a bodily writing, a language that extends the visual image. Each project evolves over time, in a fluid dynamic where chance and intuition play a central role.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist is a memory keeper, an explorer of the present, and a visionary of the future. In a constantly changing society, art has the power to reveal the invisible, give voice to marginalized identities, and question our way of life. Today, an artist’s role is also to create spaces for dialogue and reflection.
Through my work, I strive to raise collective awareness about the diversity of cultures, the richness of ancestral traditions, and the need to reconnect with our spiritual roots. Art is a tool of resistance, healing, and transformation. It has the power to touch the soul, evoke deep emotions, and open new perspectives on the world.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Several exhibitions have deeply marked my journey, both in terms of their approach and the resonance they had with my artistic vision. For instance, my exploration of Afro-Brazilian heritage and collective memory in GENÈSE - Portrait de Famille was a turning point in my work, much like Rosana Paulino’s investigations into the transmission of identity and the role of Black women in history.
With Carranca, inspired by the protective figures of Brazilian folklore, I engaged in a dialogue with the research of Ayrson Heráclito, particularly his work on Candomblé and Afro-Brazilian spiritual practices. By exploring the boundary between the sacred and the profane, I sought to highlight how art can serve as both a preservation and reinterpretation tool for cultural traditions.
Another pivotal series, Les Déesses, was an abstract tribute to female Orixás, aligning with Sidney Amaral’s reflections on spirituality and the resilience of Afro-descendant communities. Through these exhibitions and my artistic research, I continue to weave connections between heritage, collective memory, and art as a tool for transmission and resistance.”
Website: www.fabio-aragao.com
Instagram: @fabioaragaoart
