tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344590062024-03-19T13:32:41.670+01:00HARD LINEF. C. RELVAS - GRAPHIC NOVEL, CARTOON AND ILLUSTRATIONFernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-46334778068201481732015-08-17T14:37:00.001+02:002015-08-17T14:37:22.154+02:00Nau Negra, The Last Black Ship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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NOW AVAILABLE, English version of NAU NEGRA. For details visit <a href="http://callmejetleg.jimdo.com/">CALL ME JET LEG</a> and <a href="http://naunegra.blogspot.pt/">THE BLACK SHIP FILES</a>.</div>
Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-9128019867677264202015-06-27T20:31:00.002+02:002015-08-17T14:37:57.457+02:00CALL ME JET LEGSite under construction, <a href="http://callmejetleg.jimdo.com/">Call Me Jet Leg</a>, will be joining these blogs.Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-70077373736290674862015-06-07T21:51:00.001+02:002015-06-08T17:16:20.214+02:00<span style="font-size: large;">THIS SUMMER I have ORIGINAL ARTWORK from the 70s and 80s for SALE. Visit my other blog <a href="http://urso-relvas.blogspot.pt/">URSO DO RELVAS</a>.</span><br />
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<br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-8305172415607306702015-02-24T23:02:00.000+01:002015-03-31T19:56:05.571+02:00The Slipper<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"I
was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years ago and I suspect
it has its roots deep in the past (...) What
used to be just an annoyance, one day evolved steadily into a weird
relationship of my body with the rest of the physical world. And one
of the things that puzzles me, in my new situation, is that I have
trouble kicking off my left slipper. Just the left one. I can't find
any logic in it. It is not like having difficulties tying a
shoelace, something that requires a certain manual dexterity, it is
just kicking off a slipper, easier done than said. This is why I
think that understanding what makes it so attached to my foot will
take me closer to the root of the problem, but for the moment I am so
ignorant of the primary causes of my troubles as you, the scientific
community or my right slipper."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">THE TRUE STORY OF MY REBEL LEFT SLIPPER is my next story and it is mostly autobiographical. Here are the first two pages.</span></div>
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Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-63684229111158301982015-02-13T18:26:00.000+01:002015-02-13T18:26:04.779+01:00In meanwhile...Nau Negra is still looking for a publisher. Anyone out there? In meanwhile, I try some brushes for next story. All of them are faces in profile, none of them has anything to do with the story.<br />
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Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-53485184469383160522014-12-22T20:57:00.002+01:002014-12-22T21:25:17.927+01:00Season's greetings from Nau Negra.The word FIM (THE END) has already been written on the last page. Soon we'll have other news from Nau Negra.<br />
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.Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-84884645682201239232014-10-26T23:24:00.000+01:002014-10-31T14:42:52.939+01:00THE PERSIAN AMBASSADOR, Historical Transrealism?<span style="font-family: inherit;">Following a
discussion about literary Transrealism, I wondered if anybody ever
had the idea of applying the term Historical Transrealism to some
literary works and, what excited my curiosity most, to graphic
novels, a field that owes a lot to the type of novels that fall in
the Transrealism category. Not that I'm apologist of cataloging
everything, which in general serves badly the most intricate works
and spoils some of the fun, but I think that, in what concerns some
of my most recent projects, it is a correct presentation card. A
short story published online, The Persian Ambassador, finished by the
end of 2008 (it is also one of two stories published on paper in a
2011 Portuguese monochrome edition titled Li Moonface, by
Pedranocharco) is the best example I can find. An unfinished novel
from 2009 and the <a href="http://hardline-relvas.blogspot.pt/search/label/NAU%20NEGRA">graphic novel Nau Negra</a>, heavily documented on the
historical side and near completion, also go on the same direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Adass Polo, one
of the main characters of The Persian Ambassador, does mix up two
very different realities in his life, one our own present world,
where he tells his misadventures to the Chinese acupuncturist Li, and
his claimed original world at the service of Cambises, the Persian
king, that functions as his own reality. Polo dismisses the future he
is in as a world full of seated people and tries to put the record
straight about what we think of his own time and about his mission as
ambassador and explorer in ancient Ethiopia, an adventure that
somehow ends somewhere in Southeastern Europe in the twenty-first
century, in a place where people go to eat fried fish. The connection
between the two is established during events described at the end of
the story, as you may see in here.</span><br />
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finis</div>
<br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-38934017197324329582014-09-21T12:41:00.000+02:002014-11-13T13:03:32.974+01:00NAU NEGRA playing with received ideas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>NAU NEGRA</b> is a graphic novel with a touch of burlesque, based on
real, documented events from the beginning of the 17</span><sup style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;">
century Japan involving European ships, that plays with received
ideas about the time and place, about people, Japanese and European,
mostly Portuguese gentry, traders and sailors. Here are some received
ideas I had to shake while researching for this type of story.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>The
authority of the captain was unquestionable, on board?</b> No, as you
will see by the troubles of His Excellency.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>Japan,
by this time, was a closed country and that was what made the fortune
of the Portuguese traders from Macau?</b> This is somewhat
contradictory and is an idea built up on events of almost one
century, during which Macau would grow and make and lose several
fortunes, until finally the Shogun closed the doors of Japan to the
Portuguese. But, during that period and beyond, there would be plenty
of Japanese sailors on regulated or illegal trade all over the seas
of the Orient.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>The
Portuguese ships were old-fashioned carracks?</b> One – just one
every year – large black ship, heir in design to the carrack, would
make the trip auctioned by the Crown. But with time those naus
evolved into slightly more modern shapes, until the last one, the
ship of this story, was considered obsolete. The first Portuguese to
arrive to Japan probably shipwrecked in a junk, either bought, rented
or taken by force. Junks and a mixed type, called lorcha, never
stopped being used. English also used junks. Probably the Dutch stuck
to the ships of their own Company. The black ship was replaced by
small vessels called galeotas, built in India in large quantities.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>You
may suppose that Japanese converts, when away from Japan, were a meek
and self-effaced flock, until they disappeared without a trace,
right?</b> Nothing could be more distant from the truth. Contemporary
accounts describe how Japanese volunteered for risky missions or were
quick at using their swords on their own account. Forbidden to return
to Japan they certainly mixed with local populations.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>European
priests would consider their Japanese converts as equals?</b> Some
would put Japanese and Chinese one level over other peoples, but I
have no illusions that in the end prejudice, including sometimes the
belief in superiority of “blood”, would prevail... however, they
would be irritated by Japanese belief in their own superiority, and
would resent lessons of good behavior. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>European
priests were advised to wash more frequently?</b> Yes, they were.
Japanese hygienic habits made the presence of the smelly barbarians
difficult to bear. Can you imagine the sensation, when a big ship
unloaded its human population after months on board?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>Except
for the Jesuits who, we have been told, were good at astronomy and
similar curiosities, European priests would have what we imagine as a
“medieval” frame of mind?</b> In reality, in the texts I read,
they sound sometimes as if they could be seating across the table
speaking about the facts of everyday life and didn't differ much from
my neighbors... until they start speaking about relics of saints and
martyrdom. There we enter another dimension. This was the great
obsession of those times, and it was a very cruel and bloody
obsession. As for the astronomy thing, yes, Jesuits would nurture
curious, practical minds and some tolerance of costumes in the East,
but, although a little advanced for the time, that was not a rule.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>Slaves
were subject to unimaginable abuse, tortured, had their ears cut,
would be killed for nothing?</b> Yes, they were. They could be
sacrificed for their masters, and that's exactly what happens in the
story. Cutting the ears was an old legal punishment. But, on the
other hand, in desperate situations slaves took up arms and saved the
day. They fought for Malacca and saved Macau, being freed in
consequence. Slaves would carry their masters weapons and were
commonly employed in India as bodyguards or swordsmen of choice. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><b>Portuguese
ships were, in competition with Dutch and English ships, ridiculously
slow?</b> One Portuguese Commander, when persecuting them, even
compared his own flagship to a well known landmark and watering spot
on the Indian coast. “But they won't escape,” he added in the
same letter. The Black Ship surely was slowwwwwwww...</span>Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-66412593281618569022014-09-21T12:23:00.001+02:002014-09-21T12:34:22.658+02:00Nau Negra. One Boatman, Two Ships on You Tube.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4Q9FcThI89E" width="480"></iframe>Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-55206626693092846592014-09-14T19:22:00.001+02:002015-06-06T20:14:09.810+02:00DRY, the bionic jellyfish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arimo, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Now you know that
DRY, THE BIONIC JELLYFISH, was born the 14
September 2014, so be ready for the 25 years of rain, or lack of it,
depending on what part of the world you are.</b></span></span>Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-68055422259724303642014-05-05T22:45:00.002+02:002014-05-05T22:53:36.668+02:00NAU NEGRA, title page<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LBHEtUHzyiCsL7gGRe6YVqVXrcn_GzC-f_reKJ0hWK0pysJeZ3N1UIsN5pas9gXdwOElIXvK3-WH4dKUBuisZSrXI_BB9Jxhe3oOWajSakMlajqMK0GgGIQK8NAEx6nUK6iS/s1600/NAU+tt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LBHEtUHzyiCsL7gGRe6YVqVXrcn_GzC-f_reKJ0hWK0pysJeZ3N1UIsN5pas9gXdwOElIXvK3-WH4dKUBuisZSrXI_BB9Jxhe3oOWajSakMlajqMK0GgGIQK8NAEx6nUK6iS/s1600/NAU+tt1.jpg" height="640" width="406" /></a></div>
<br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-14266405828397607102014-04-09T21:20:00.000+02:002015-06-06T20:11:25.172+02:00Pigs in Space!<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTQ3FjtiSGK055Hha9CoNurm9hlCfcdUH45C9DeTKcfTARV_gQA9zdiYEH6kEZ48sTZCkt3Y8y3QBHWn8-vkXbDttRckzGbEyfROqHCqQKeFI8fux09JcZ8puwE9c5ZEQofl-0w/s1600/blg+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTQ3FjtiSGK055Hha9CoNurm9hlCfcdUH45C9DeTKcfTARV_gQA9zdiYEH6kEZ48sTZCkt3Y8y3QBHWn8-vkXbDttRckzGbEyfROqHCqQKeFI8fux09JcZ8puwE9c5ZEQofl-0w/s1600/blg+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">O Urso pergunta:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Na sua opinião, os retratos pintados pelo ex presidente americano George Bush revelam o seu lado humano, são obras artísticas que enriquecem a Humanidade e redimem-no dos milhares de pessoas que mandou para a morte, porque afinal a guerra é a guerra, o povo é que sempre as paga e, enfim, pelo menos em teoria estava do “nosso” lado e não apenas do lado da “família”?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Não sabe se a pintura é boa, mas acha que deve ser, afinal tem tinta, como a sua?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Espera ansiosamente pela anunciada exposição de pintura do senhor Vladimir, que também deve ser tão boa, ou mesmo melhor, ainda que possa nem ser pintada por ele, afinal muitos alegados grandes artistas têm assistentes, porque não os haveriam de ter os ditadores?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Acha que é uma injustiça que também não tenha assistentes, mas como pagá-los, uma vez que o Passos Coelho lhe cortou uns quantos ordenados, destroçando-lhe a carreira artística?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">É de opinião que o verdadeiro artista, o artista sério, tem que cumprir a sua obrigação e ter emprego também sério e que, se o artista não ganha ordenado sério é porque não precisa disso para viver a sério?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Acredita que o artista é uma espécie de eremita e é imune à fome e à guerra?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Acredita que o artista rico é rico porque aldrabou melhor do que o artista pobre? Ou é uma mente liberal e pensa, apenas, que ele é rico por decreto da Providência e pela sua superior ausência de escrúpulos?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pensa que ser artista não vem com o trabalho, com a paixão, com a investigação, com a aplicação dos dias e das noites, três dias por noite e três noites por dia, mas apenas com a sua convicção?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Porque a arte goza com a arte, acha que arte é respirar por uma palhinha sem fazer barulho?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sente, mais do que pensa, que figura pública ou aparentado já é um génio, ainda antes de começar a manifestar a sua veia artística, cuja por certo vai ser genialmente apreciada?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Não percebe lá muito bem os artistas do regime, mas tem muito orgulho neles, porque são nossos, como a sardinha marroquina?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Se pensa assim, ou se pensa que um curso pode exercer sobre si o grande efeito transformador que o levará de sapo a artista, se pensa que a arte, seja ela qual fôr, se pode comprar por pacotes de normas, se acha que a irreverência e o espírito inovador se cultivam aquecendo o lugar, pelos vistos chegou ao sítio certo. Sente-se e espere pela pancada.</span></div>
Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-69307927716063417142014-04-08T15:19:00.000+02:002015-06-06T20:12:09.088+02:00PESSOARDA. Procrastinação hereditáriaA propósito da questão levantada na <a href="http://hardline-relvas.blogspot.pt/2013/10/pessoarda.html" target="_blank">Pessoarda</a> de outubro passado (que podem ler no Hard Line), veja-se o curioso artigo do Science Daily sobre <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140407101718.htm" target="_blank">procrastinação e impulsividade</a>. Pensavam que eu estava a brincar?Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-84474049356860151442014-04-08T01:11:00.000+02:002015-06-06T20:12:59.271+02:00Artistas Emergentes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbXiIE8cN9EyX7l1pyduFeNMUAE4SdU6tmPx-qoNWb7CMXiTxUc-tNN0h9DpYj_ZoWEzHjj4Fyapn-dmBmzpYN3sIFOUffeOM5hhxotmA8rL7ZvMhHvYuxy_-2ofraf7edISSRw/s1600/dubiput4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbXiIE8cN9EyX7l1pyduFeNMUAE4SdU6tmPx-qoNWb7CMXiTxUc-tNN0h9DpYj_ZoWEzHjj4Fyapn-dmBmzpYN3sIFOUffeOM5hhxotmA8rL7ZvMhHvYuxy_-2ofraf7edISSRw/s1600/dubiput4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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O Urso pergunta: é daqueles que pensam que a febre de revelações artísticas entre os políticos mostra o seu lado humano, mesmo depois de contados os mortos?Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-57301108517564697852014-04-01T23:52:00.000+02:002014-08-19T23:02:01.632+02:00NAU NEGRA, one boatman, two ships.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnQCN1Y26lwWFFCeWMxBAMRJuc93C9ryKwasLvFi5VHLKfPbqGuieBSyTvfyqXs9CuwdTZxzRBNAvMQ8W8pNIIB9pR1Xtd41fKItrY67rMNFo8ezbhXqbIemJQaswy14S8-_hCw/s1600/Sketch306192228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnQCN1Y26lwWFFCeWMxBAMRJuc93C9ryKwasLvFi5VHLKfPbqGuieBSyTvfyqXs9CuwdTZxzRBNAvMQ8W8pNIIB9pR1Xtd41fKItrY67rMNFo8ezbhXqbIemJQaswy14S8-_hCw/s1600/Sketch306192228.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>O barqueiro, no esboço que deu a partida para a primeira página definitiva (pag 2)</i>.</span></div>
<div lang="pt-PT">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>One boatman, two ships</b>, I am working now on the English version of this story, see bellow for the first pages of the original version.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the end of the year 1608
the crew of two Japanese shuinsen or vermillion seal ships, at dock
in the port of Macau, got involved in a fight with the Portuguese.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most probably not even then
one could know for sure who started the fight, but the
captain-general of Macau and owner of the annual trip to Japan –
made by the large ship known as kurofune or black ship – surrounded
and punished severely the Japanese crews.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following year, the Daimyo
owner of the vermillion ships complained to the Shogun and demanded
that the black ship be seized on arrival at Nagasaki. The
captain-general refused to be judged by the Shogun and fortified
himself on the ship. On the first days of 1610 a samurai force of the
Daimyo gave the assault.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unable to leave the harbor
from lack of wind, the ship became a fortress under siege. The
Japanese population of Nagasaki and the foreign community, mainly
Portuguese merchants with their families and priests who didn’t
want to embark, gathered on the shore and watched the long and
systematic night assaults led by one junk and a flotilla of small
boats, repealed wave after wave by the extensive use of gunshot and
firepots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In meanwhile, the loaded ship
was slowly and painfully being towed towards the exit of the harbor
by her shallops, while the days were mostly spent in useless
negotiations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After three nights of fierce
fight, when the ship had almost reach her goal, the explosion of the
gunpowder magazine finally sank her and all the valuable cargo,
killing most of the crew and part of the attacking samurai.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The increasing presence of
Dutch and English ships in the area would soon lead to the demise of
the Portuguese black ships, in favor of a sail and most probably oar
ship known as galeota, of cheaper and quicker construction, smaller,
faster and easier to maneuver.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In less than ten years another
kurofune would be the last to make the trip between Nagasaki and
Macau.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time it was not a
dramatic and heroic trip but an agonizing one. During the entire
month of January and part of February of 1618, the big ship, loaded
with riches, sailed close to shore hesitating whether to put to sea
or to return to the safety of the port, under the threat of an
invisible Dutch corsair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The destiny of these two large
and obsolete ships, looking like huge whales extravagantly adorned
with sails and colorful banners, is not only linked by the commerce
of silk and silver between Macau and Nagasaki, by the similarities
and differences among several cultures present on board and by the
shadow of corsairs and typhoons, but also by the scars in the body
and in the memory of the boatman.</span></div>
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Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-85659335561787020082014-01-21T12:01:00.000+01:002014-04-02T12:15:08.881+02:00Nau Negra, primeiro capítulo<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 136;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">Eis as primeiras doze páginas. É tudo a que terão direito até a história estar acabada, o que está previsto ser antes do final do ano, caso tudo corra bem na recolha de apoios, pois o que se conseguiu só dá para começar. O autor também aceita críticas, sobretudo para ter oportunidade de as rebater. Uma delas diz respeito ao tipo de letra utilizado, que não é do agrado de algumas pessoas, mas lá iremos em futuros posts.</span></span></div>
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NAU NEGRA</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">Nos finais de 1608, a equipagem de dois Navios do Selo Vermelho japoneses, atracados no porto de Macau, envolveram-se numa rixa com portugueses. O Capitão-mor e dono da viagem anual ao Japão – feita pela grande nau conhecida como Kurofune ou Navio Negro – interveio e castigou duramente as tripulações japonesas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">O </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">Daimio dono dos navios queixou-se ao Xogun e exigiu o apresamento do Navio Negro, quando este chegou a Nagasaki, no ano seguinte.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">O Capitão-mor recusou-se a ser julgado pelo Xogun e barricou-se na nau. Aos primeiros dias de 1610 os homens do Daimio deram o assalto. A falta de vento e o facto da nau ter encalhado quando era empurrada pela corrente, transformou-a numa fortaleza sitiada. Foram três dias e três noites de luta furiosa, que culminaram com a explosão do paiol de pólvora e o afundamento da nau, com toda a sua valiosa carga, a maioria da tripulação e alguns dos atacantes.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 136;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="pt-PT">A ameaça dos navios holandeses e ingleses acabaria por levar ao abandono gradual deste tipo de grande nau em favor de galeotas, mais baratas, mais pequenas e mais manobráveis. Uma década depois da explosão daquela nau, o último desses navios faria a viagem entre Nagasaki e Macau. Foi esta viagem tão triste e angustiada quanto aquela tinha sido dramática e heróica. Durante todo o mês de Janeiro e parte do de Fevereiro de 1618, a grande nau da prata e da seda andou às voltas à vista das terras do Daimio de Omura, sob a ameaça permanente dum invisível navio corsário holandês.</span></span></div>
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<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="pt-PT" style="widows: 136;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">O destino destes dois navios negros, grandes, bojudos e obsoletos, extravagantes como uma enorme baleia espetada de bandeirilhas, está não só ligado pela rota entre Macau e Nagasaki, pelo comércio da seda e da prata, pelos encontros e desencontros de culturas diferentes, pela sombra dos corsários e dos tufões, como também pelas cicatrizes do corpo e da memória do Barqueiro.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYibCT1-tkF4r37Fdf_vrSbqVSczEGCWYWNJDerMiOCAHmTVY1RdooMraJ1g9ccwpsegucTx6sH8np1fpJLVZ4Aw1k0eP0Kisbuc-HgFbQhYBgUxtl3QMJJBQ5zyevsXjoEtiSPw/s1600/Nau+Negra+pags+1-2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYibCT1-tkF4r37Fdf_vrSbqVSczEGCWYWNJDerMiOCAHmTVY1RdooMraJ1g9ccwpsegucTx6sH8np1fpJLVZ4Aw1k0eP0Kisbuc-HgFbQhYBgUxtl3QMJJBQ5zyevsXjoEtiSPw/s1600/Nau+Negra+pags+1-2-3.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-25805750265836992882014-01-11T16:30:00.000+01:002014-04-02T12:13:09.364+02:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-49050505218749883522013-10-22T17:57:00.000+02:002014-04-02T12:57:41.867+02:00Pessoarda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><i>Pessoardinha (figura simbólica).<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><i>1) Um Pessoa empunhando uma sardinha. O Pessoa simboliza o génio literário sem prejuizo das funções normais de escriturário, muito apreciadas pela população urbana. A sardinha simboliza uma das mais antigas exportações nacionais de sucesso.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><i>2) Um Pessoa com uma sarda na mão. Há quem defenda que o peixe representado é, na realidade, uma sarda. Sendo assim, esta figura simbólica mais ousada deveria chamar-se Pessoarda.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><i>Em cima: um Pessoa brandindo uma sardinha, ou sarda, num campo de Outonos. O campo outonal representa o que não é quente nem frio, nem bom nem mau clima, o que não anda nem desanda, o que é de brandos costumes, de brisas febris e desalentos constantes</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">XXX<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">É preciso passar mais do que umas férias fora de Portugal, até mais do que uns meses, para se sentir bem como o relógio não anda ao mesmo ritmo para toda a gente. Depois de quase sete anos fora, a sensação, ao pôr os pés pela primeira vez no Rossio numa tarde ensolarada de Setembro, foi a de ter desembarcado numa atmosfera de geleia de limão, dentro da qual as pessoas pareciam movimentar-se em câmara lenta, indiferentes a um mundo onde se praticam outras velocidades, particularmente as senhoras idosas, deslocando-se com um muito próprio andar pendular, cujo dá a ilusão de andar em frente andando de lado. Ou vice-versa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Três anos volvidos a sensação dissipou-se, noto apenas que há muita gente que se movimenta devagar e cabisbaixa, arrastando o esmagador peso de ter que se arrastar a si própria, e o andar pendular não passa já de uma curiosidade que só algumas senhoras de idade praticam. Adaptei-me, acertei o relógio. Direi então que, tal como o resto dos portugueses, sou um biolento.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Resumindo o que se conseguiu fazer em Portugal entre dois dezanoves de Setembro, de 2010 a 2013. Desta última data em diante, a avaliação será feita no ano que vem. Estes anos passaram de movimento rápido a movimento lento e a movimento suspenso. Sobretudo, foi uma experiência emocionante. Nos primeiros dois anos fez-se um filme de animação, acabado dentro do prazo, mas já com condições limitadas pelo anúncio de cortes. O produtor foi obrigado a encerrar o estúdio. A partir daí entrei em modo de sem-rede, qualquer tipo de rede. O país aprofundou o estado de delírio depressivo em que vinha vivendo. Recebi dois prémios. Simbólicos, assim como o Pessoardinha. Publicaram-se dois livros, por pequenos editores. Com rendimentos também simbólicos. A parte emocionante foi sobreviver, dia a dia, hora a hora, ao último ano.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Apesar de acertado o relógio biológico, fica ainda uma inquietante incompreensão por fenómenos a ele ligados. Como o manifesto desalento com que muita gente acolhe qualquer esboço de acção concreta e também o hábito generalizado de simular estar a resolver um problema sem na realidade meter mãos à obra, com todos os teatros e fogos de artifício que isso envolve. O que mais surpreende é as pessoas parecerem pensar que estáo mesmo a resolver qualquer coisa. Logo desde os primeiros dias em que chegámos a Portugal, ouvimos coisas espantosas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos, incrédulos, longas tiradas de prosa quimérica sobre as verdades da vida, ainda que em contradição com o que está à vista, com a desesperada certeza de que tudo o que cá está, está no sítio certo e se outros o têm fomos nós que o levámos para lá, e que não há no mundo outro povo que saiba como comer bacalhau.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos muita gente dizer que é normal encontrarem-se portas fechadas, por considerarem que o próprio país fechou. Assim, naturalmente, devagar...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos o silêncio oco do mau pagador, tão antigo e tão enraizado neste país, que já só se ouve com o nariz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos sapatear em vários estilos de passo lateral lento. Este consiste numa manobra de diversão em que vários passos lentos, muito visíveis, simulados para o lado, pretendem dar a ilusão de um passo enérgico em frente, sempre que necessária a execução de uma tarefa concreta.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos, numa das primeiras de muitas manhãs passadas em balcões da segurança social e das finanças, o grito triunfal de uma funcionária atravessar uma sala cheia de gente, “Não há rede! Vamos todos almoçar!” Se ainda não tínhamos percebido onde estávamos, ficámos a saber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Assistimos a várias tentativas baixas para nos sacarem dinheiro. Os quadros que trouxemos da Croácia foram alvos perfeitos, logo desde a alfândega. A parte mais cómica foi ver uma funcionária apontando freneticamente para o texto da declaração do ministério da cultura croata, tentando fazê-lo passar por um texto em inglês, numa tradução imaginária de sua conveniência.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Por outro lado, também tivemos a grata surpresa de ver a polícia resolver-nos um caso quando já quase o tínhamos esquecido, o que, depois de tudo isto, deveras nos espantou.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Coincidindo com o nosso regresso, caiu com estrondo a nova cara da sempre choramingada crise. Um quarto de século a pôr remendos numa máscara de prosperidade emprestada, eis o resultado.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Ouvimos, então, repetida vezes sem conta e com ares de consensual sabedoria, a mais aviltante desculpa que alguém poderia inventar, a de que o português é bom, só que é mal dirigido. Aparentemente a questão estará entre o conceito de governante e o conceito de gestor, mas isso é irrelevante porque os milagres não são do domínio nem de uns, nem de outros. Depois, o português não precisa de ser bem dirigido para ser bom. Precisa de estar inserido em todo um ambiente mais funcional, ou seja, é preciso não um bom gestor mas sim um ambiente inteiro num longe daqui inteiro. Depois, governantes e gestores, para ganharem o seu têm que tirar do teu, devolvendo-te qualquer coisa, de preferência que tu não tivesses de outro modo, o que significa que, em determinado ponto do processo em full swing, dêem-lhe a volta que lhe derem, a única coisa certa é que estão lá para te tirarem tudo o que puderem tirar, em troca de produtos viciados e, de preferência, viciantes. E isto dificilmente ajudará à solução do problema. E, por fim, é uma desculpa manhosa, abdicar da dignidade de ser pessoa responsável para não ter de assumir que o problema poderá estar entre as suas próprias mãos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Talvez a razão possa estar escondida atrás de um verbo de sonoridades estilhaçantes:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><br /></span>
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><b>pro.cras.ti.nar</b></span><br />
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><b>(latim <i>procrastino</i>, -are, deixar para amanhã)</b></span><br />
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><b>1) Deixar para depois, adiar, retardar.</b></span><br />
<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><b>2) Usar de delongas.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;"><span lang="hr-HR">Como
se chega lá? Para tentar compreender como se forma um país que
desde há muito funciona parando, comecemos, então, pelo mais
evidente, o biolento.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style, serif;">É
histórico. O português é biolento. Chamam-lhe alguns os brandos
costumes, se bem que isso não englobe a totalidade do fenómeno.
Defendem alguns que por causa do clima. Talvez. Da brisa atlântica.
Talvez. Do isolamento. Talvez. Seja qual for a razão, ou razões, é
algo que está por aí. Pode mesmo ter desempenhado um papel
importante na independência deste país eternamente outonal. É que
isto pega-se e, quando se agarra, não há maneira de lhe dar a
volta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style';">Imaginem-se hostes castelhanas numa hipotética invasão, batidas pelos maus ventos que as empurravam de Espanha, a serem apanhadas, a meio caminho de Lisboa, por uma estranha sensação de torpor. Presas de desânimo, que mais lhes restava do que arrastarem-se pelos campos e lezírias encharcadas, cabisbaixas e modorrentas, transformadas nos seus próprios verdugos, até ao ponto em que reconheciam a inutilidade de sofrer tão desgastante ventura, em vez de estarem a celebrar a vida com tapas, pinchos e viño fino. Ainda que chegassem até às muralhas da cidade, um ataque de peste e a ameaça de um desembarque de mercenários ingleses soaria a retirada definitiva.</span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Mas, teriam os portugueses medievais já esse feitio de lidar com o tempo? Estará mesmo o uso do tempo agarrado aos efeitos do clima? Fazendo fé de forais e notícias de torto, suspeita-se que a lei fosse muito relutante e os desfechos brutais. Imagino que, descontando as alturas em que era violento e brutal, o português era não só biolento, como também já seria um protocolento em botão. Os dois parecem ser inseparáveis, hoje em dia. Provavelmente manobrava por entre os meandros de um código de atitudes e fidelidades já herdado dos romanos. Daí viria a desenvolver o gosto por jogos de mesuras, alianças e rituais, em função das suas conveniências. Quando não estivesse a rachar a cabeça a alguém, claro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Nas zonas de influência islâmica o protocolento seria mais ao estilo salamalequento. Juntos poderão ter formado hábitos de fronteira, hábitos de compadrio alargado regido por um cauteloso sistema de comportas rituais e procrastinadoras, um pouco como cofres de abertura retardada. Não me parece que o papel do clima possa ter sido predominante, neste processo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Dir-me-ão que, mesmo sendo lento e mesureiro, o exemplo da tão cantada epopeia das descobertas viria mostrar quão dinâmico e decidido o português soube ser, no momento mais criativo da sua história. Em parte é verdade, mas uma parte bastante mais reduzida do que se quer fazer crer. Na realidade, a aventura marítima até viria a firmar a tendência existente. Senão, vejamos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Comecemos pela realeza. O primeiro rei da dinastia que iniciou a dita epopeia teve vários filhos, meio ingleses, teoricamente meio-biorápidos. Contudo, segundo o cronista, ele próprio era um conhecido biolento. Por seu lado, o Infante, que tinha tido até aí uma vida recheada de emoções e intrigas, em que vira um irmão abandonado numa vala comum pelo sobrinho e um outro abandonado numa masmorra marroquina pela família, ficou mundialmente conhecido por se ter reformado à beira-mar a presidir a uma marcha lenta de descobrinhação. Três escravos aqui, uma família inteira acolá, dizia o Infante contando pelos dedos, vinte mais adiante, um par de rosas, ainda descobriremos ouro, vão ver, estamos quase lá, acreditem em mim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Entretanto, morreu. O sobrinho, que era um rei daqueles de sair nas capas das revistas, todo tufado nos ombros enormes e nos sapatos descomunais, logo empandeirou o negócio, tentou uma aventura sebastianista no norte de África donde foi resgatado in extremis, entre outras desastrosas aventuras militares, que quase o iam levando em desgosto para a Terra Santa. Temos aqui um rei decidido e despachado, mas que não fez rigorosamente nada de útil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Enquanto o rei cavalgava à sua custa e arruinava o país, o povo ia-se desenrascando. Biolentamente e procrastinando o mais possível, pelo seguro, pois enquanto cá está deste lado, é meu. Ainda os hábitos fronteiriços. O clima, entretanto, tinha mudado bastante, donde se deduz que pouca ou nenhuma importância teve para o caso, pois os hábitos transmitiram-se, sobreviveram e refinaram.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Abre-se aqui um curto intervalo, possibilitado pelo alargamento dos horizontes marítimos. Vamos, por fim, ver algumas figuras realmente decididas e despachadas. O novo rei, como decerto sabem, pois é episódio que estremece o coração de qualquer plebeu, despachou algumas cabeças de famílias nobres, inclusivé da sua própria família e por sua própria mão, e não só ressuscitou a empresa de descobrinhação do tio-avô, como lhe deu novos contornos e a encaminhou para uma coisa séria. Um dos jovens cavaleiros da sua casa seria mais tarde um dos mais dinâmicos e originais governadores das Índias.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Muitos outros houve e, claro está, também eles morreram. Heróis rápidos num autêntico filme de acção que acabava espalhado lentamente em praias tropicais, atascado em sangue e em febres...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">... afogado no familiar nepotismo da administração...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">... ou no fundo do mar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">O povo emigrava às carradas, morria em camadas e desenrascava-se ao ritmo índico. A distância da terra-mãe criava um maior à-vontade em termos de normas sociais, democratizava-se o uso de prerrogativas. Em suma, o português descobria um biolento exótico e ganhava uma nova paixão pelo abuso de códigos sociais.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">O século seguinte viu os portugueses da Índia zangarem-se amiúde uns com os outros, por vezes de modo muito violento, intrigarem e puxarem-se mutuamente o tapete, por vezes usando apenas orelhas moucas e a já nobre arte da procrastinação.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Andavam lentamente pela rua, para se darem ao respeito, hábito que perduraria por vários séculos enraizado na imaginação da nobreza. Perguntar-me-ão, como pode alguém dar-se ao respeito andando como uma galinha, responder-lhes-ei, com uma espada à cinta e umas dezenas de capangas armados atrás. Sendo invejosos – pois a vaidade e a inveja têm um papel muito importante nestes assuntos – até à mais baixa parvoíce, tinham criados que lhes traziam as cadeiras até à igreja e que se batiam entre si pelos lugares a que os senhores achavam ter direito. Séculos de escravatura terão também deixado a sua marca nestes hábitos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Qualquer problema ou mal-entendido de monta em Macau ou na Índia implicava uma viagem a Lisboa ou, mais tarde, a Madrid, sem a qual nada se resolvia, mas com a qual se poderiam limpar milagrosamente vários tipos de crimes. Os grandes iam a Madrid, os pequenos iam onde calhava, o que era preciso era cumprir o protocolar purgatório e olear o compadrio.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">A partir daqui – crianças, acabou-se o intervalo – instalou-se definitivamente o já conhecido biolento e protocolento português, cauteloso procrastinador, que nenhuma guerra, austeridade ou regime ainda desalojou.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Foi também esta a época em que a Europa viu o nascimento de verdadeiras cortes de escribas e notários, com funções protegidas e uma linguagem própria. Estava inaugurada a época do funcionalismo de carreira e lançadas as sementes de uma estrutura frequentemente disfuncional que ocupa hoje boa parte da população do mundo, sementes essas que cairam muito bem nesta terra de mesuras e compadrios, de cerimónias e rituais.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">“Cuidado com o que diz. As palavras <i>hoje, amanhã, depois de amanhã</i> e <i>para a semana</i>, podem representar um insulto aos papéis que estão em lista de espera.” Podem escrevê-lo num azulejo e distribuí-lo nas repartições.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Um exemplo de como as novas tendências burocráticas se vieram engavinhar nos velhos hábitos de fronteira e chegaram aos nossos dias. Leva-nos pelo menos um mês a interpretar um exame médico feito nos serviços de saúde públicos. Noutros países, ainda que em semelhante situação económica, o mesmo exame está pronto e visto pelo médico no próprio dia. Como é que eles dominaram a técnica de fazer tudo num dia? Ter-se-ão esquecido que há um cerimonial a cumprir, nestas coisas do conhecimento? Quanto a nós, devemos ter o serviço de saúde mais cerimonioso do mundo. Como dizia um rei, morrer sim, mas devagar. Está aí tudo resumido.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Mas, adiantamo-nos. Assim, a nossa história andou lentamente pelo século seguinte, apenas abalada pelo terramoto. Para o que aqui nos interessa, teremos que saltar as invasões francesas e as guerras civis e olhar para a magnífica paisagem que se nos apresenta logo a seguir. Oportunistas e carreiristas de múltiplas espécies polvilham o cenário, vestidos de reposteiro, com espadim e pasta nos corredores dos ministérios. Pimpões há que não só acumulam comendas, como são várias vezes marqueses, um pouco condes disto, um pouco condes daquilo e ainda dão uma de duques na missa de domingo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Idos os fatos de reposteiro e espadim, que ainda passaram pela república, à excepção dos títulos nobiliárquicos, sobram-nos hoje os doutores de uma certa geração muito dada a atalhos, que ainda dão escândalo de vez em quando, doutores que não sabem para que lado fica a China, apenas sabem do seu oriente. Mas até isso há-de passar, afogado numa maré de emigração de cursos de design gráfico e humanidades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Os amantes do cerimonial e os ritualistas, os colecionistas e os catalogadores, contudo terão sempre lugar. Entre eles estarão aqueles que encaram o ritual com bonomia, a boa cara da cerimónia, e os colecionistas dedicados, que colocam as coisas sempre no mesmo sítio mas também as mantêm vivas, porém também os vaidosos e os invejosos de sempre, os ciumentos e os intriguistas, os simplesmente inábeis, os atrapalhadores de serviço para quem as voltas do segredo são um instrumento e um vício. Estes ainda cá estarão, quando os emigrantes regressarem, como uma plantação de arbustos de espinhos. E perguntar-lhes-ão os arbustos “Não há lá gente séria como nós, lá donde viestes?” Ao que os que regressam lhes responderão, rindo, “Sim, mas nunca vimos tantos protocolentos juntos, a atrapalhar no mesmo sítio.” E que faz um protocolento, para além de atrapalhar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Não é assim que se faz, diz ele. Esta é uma das frases que pode identificar um protocolento de carreira, seja ele de que quadrante for, sonhando com uma gloriosa reforma ou almejando mesmo ter, um dia, um busto no canto de um jardim ou, ao menos, o nome numa placa que não seja de cemitério.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Não é assim que se faz, sendo dita com cuidado e em surdina, acarinhada como uma peça de veludo, mostrada como uma arma afiada ou um tesouro, é a frase reveladora daquele que conhece e respeita todos os meandros do consuetudinário protocolo, certo de, através da sábia fórmula, lá ir trilhando os caminhos da fama local e da glória bairrista. Ser protocolento é como pertencer a uma grande sociedade discreta de portugueses cuja finalidade não é melhorar as coisas existentes e inventar novas, mas sim ganhar o seu e ser respeitado pelos pares e admirado pelos vizinhos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Apesar de tudo, este sistema funciona. É sucesso garantido e estabiliza o capital, pela repetição de uma fórmula, testada em vários outonos. Normalmente cria híbridos do gosto popular, ele mesmo herdeiro de outros híbridos, com uma vaga tendência internacional recente. Sendo o trabalho bem feito, pode resultar mesmo algum efeito mais profundo do que uma vaga imitação em série. Sendo o trabalho mal feito é um grande empecilho, pois o gosto do povo raramente os distingue. Em qualquer dos casos é, também, uma grande contribuição para o assoreamento das ideias.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Contas por baixo, nos meus tempos de liceu passei por não menos de seis, até hoje vivi em pelo menos cinco localidades portuguesas diferentes e três estrangeiras e, por pouco tempo que lá vivesse, nunca fui turista. As exposições dos meus trabalhos ou se concentram num período, ou parecem colectivas. Cada nova aventura não é entusiasmante sem um novo estilo de desenho, um novo tipo de escrita ou, no mínimo, um arranjo gráfico diferente. Cada assunto só é interessante enquanto não completamente dominado. O texto, que foi tantas vezes caluniado quando da publicação semanal, não é fácil de seguir. Já se vê que não me dou bem com o sistema atrás descrito. Também não me é simpático quando me atravanca o caminho. Colarem-me às costas trabalhos passados, sugerirem imitar-me a mim próprio, também é casca de caracol que dispenso.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="PT" style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Lamento se pareço ingrato, mas alguns dos leitores de banda desenhada que podemos enquadrar no campo dos colecionistas revelam, quanto a mim, um impenetrável imobilismo ao escolher apenas os meus trabalhos mais antigos, como referência. São pessoas de gostos agarrados àquilo que consideram ser sério, em que apreciação estética é sinónimo de catalogação correcta. Não é solução tentar mostrar-lhes, a cada passo, que por cada um desses há outro melhor, mais recente e com vida mais instável, algumas vezes interrompido pelo próprio editor. Por outro lado, o mundo português dos críticos de banda desenhada é um mundo de imaginação. Geralmente pouco dados à investigação no terreno, conseguem dar novos títulos às obras que comentam, elaboram longos textos embrulhados em palavras formadas por aglutinação germânica, descobrem ligações a outros autores que o próprio autor desconhece, discutem entre si técnicas e influências que o autor não sabia possuir, enfim, um exótico fermento de invenção. Creio que, se estivesse no seu lugar, me divertiria bastante. Porque não aceitá-los, tanto críticos como colecionistas, tal como são? Neste nosso mundo um pouco quântico, águas passadas ainda movem moinhos, contudo águas paradas não. A minha preocupação é, agora, desassorear a barra.<span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-25588945709211959802013-09-30T00:15:00.002+02:002013-09-30T00:19:17.655+02:00AVIAN WORLD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my neighborhood birds imitate people and, sometimes, it looks people imitate birds. Ink and watercolor, approx. 6,5 cm x 4,5 cm.Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-83174273649030834502013-09-04T00:05:00.000+02:002013-11-06T00:15:45.364+01:00ASK A PALMYRA, the first pages.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ask-Palmyra-Transgenic-Fish-Crazy/dp/1771430915/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379083156&sr=8-1&keywords=fernando+relvas" target="_blank">Buy the book.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuis9ObPS81rTM5YiieAA1jcqf7YdMhGXy_6cKtPwyzEpRl3wEXLaGG-1thNBAjde72kwo8hrokOYBqK9sHmzQ44v5jBlEza89DJApRnE32BMy1yCKO_-DxiXizh0wglx50BR4w/s1600/AskP+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuis9ObPS81rTM5YiieAA1jcqf7YdMhGXy_6cKtPwyzEpRl3wEXLaGG-1thNBAjde72kwo8hrokOYBqK9sHmzQ44v5jBlEza89DJApRnE32BMy1yCKO_-DxiXizh0wglx50BR4w/s640/AskP+1.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z1UtBQauIJJCsj8rVvSzUEmxhvMb6teEGkd3k9HqUFZtJywxshv8N_SvxI2sGiEKh_zTMOBPSMnBERta4T33SzpDy3eAEKoEszKzxG0thU_d3_9jtR4vFqLz12fIEANYy5Ft5Q/s1600/AskP+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z1UtBQauIJJCsj8rVvSzUEmxhvMb6teEGkd3k9HqUFZtJywxshv8N_SvxI2sGiEKh_zTMOBPSMnBERta4T33SzpDy3eAEKoEszKzxG0thU_d3_9jtR4vFqLz12fIEANYy5Ft5Q/s640/AskP+3.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2wBRLuslAEjaJkBXmuH9Ge3sodJZQq654xeuqPw4tOgMJT7q_78Axh3t22xSx56wZP_na7iz2rmxX23EhlaQ8U6IhYQWxeTGsVYxYiPn4nPfWwFVPXcrOMyzrBRG7xjDu5mwQw/s1600/AskP+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2wBRLuslAEjaJkBXmuH9Ge3sodJZQq654xeuqPw4tOgMJT7q_78Axh3t22xSx56wZP_na7iz2rmxX23EhlaQ8U6IhYQWxeTGsVYxYiPn4nPfWwFVPXcrOMyzrBRG7xjDu5mwQw/s640/AskP+4.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAgBXxlqdxn4KIrltzv-xF_XS3O4549SUFzUkjzIlRprIFPX2nnmG8UxENPGwV1FQNpcrDWfpocF4fhJNDJ0PUtVTVUANL274de2WPVrAW9ObTV3Ai5tJDyjhuz6YFvVvbnvLdA/s1600/AskP+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAgBXxlqdxn4KIrltzv-xF_XS3O4549SUFzUkjzIlRprIFPX2nnmG8UxENPGwV1FQNpcrDWfpocF4fhJNDJ0PUtVTVUANL274de2WPVrAW9ObTV3Ai5tJDyjhuz6YFvVvbnvLdA/s640/AskP+5.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbziDxdrckBFKKxBq-V_N3rvkotTU6za8XHYSyZvx1L1m6TPmJSQ5H2T4-TfqbKnWAeUwLK93HoWKPC-R2ZUZQN8w9jx3Rgsu3gonRb11-jbyiXysfc2oK5eWZEGFeY2rmfZAQ-A/s1600/AskP+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbziDxdrckBFKKxBq-V_N3rvkotTU6za8XHYSyZvx1L1m6TPmJSQ5H2T4-TfqbKnWAeUwLK93HoWKPC-R2ZUZQN8w9jx3Rgsu3gonRb11-jbyiXysfc2oK5eWZEGFeY2rmfZAQ-A/s640/AskP+6.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-48183515061498215312013-07-26T18:58:00.000+02:002013-11-06T00:15:45.359+01:00Palmyra, the book. Coming soon.MAKING PALMYRA<br /><br />The world of Palmyra wasn't created all at once. The first sketches still had no definite style, hesitating for a while between pen and pencil. Some go as far back as 1997. Gradually the design settled on black and white wax crayons on colored drawing paper, intended to be edited on computer at the final stage, which allowed a greater degree of freedom in defining both storyline and page layout.<br /><br />This first work had a troubled existence, starting with a failed edition and then going on tour, disconnected from any narrative, featuring the original drawings in several art or comic art exhibitions. However, its purpose being to tell a story, at a certain point it got a new storyline and a new page layout. A virtual secretary – brand name Palmyra – took the role of narrator. But changes wouldn't stop there.<br /><br />Reworked recently with two narrators instead of one, it gained a new rhythm with the dialogue between Palma and Kyki, both belonging to the network of Palmyra virtual secretaries. New questions arose, about privacy in the virtual world and also about our degree of dependence on it. The story and the layout were improved. Some drawings that were excluded at an earlier stage were recovered for the new story, while others, now redundant, were left out. The sketches on colored paper were reproduced in grayscale, as was the original intention.<br /><br />Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-67119581843527315192013-05-12T23:05:00.001+02:002013-09-02T23:06:21.829+02:00MIND ACROSS THE BORDER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEkFClCnWckQF7yOam5TaY5HqMUHyxU-XfnMd5PqM_oVFcH0thhKp6SurSy4zrn22JMP4LcI4yk0CK4TqQzCgSeNLMnaxr_QSSzKC-3rxFuSWh6QUYBGs-BgkPt6lB7gJYLO3/s1600/Crossing+Borders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEkFClCnWckQF7yOam5TaY5HqMUHyxU-XfnMd5PqM_oVFcH0thhKp6SurSy4zrn22JMP4LcI4yk0CK4TqQzCgSeNLMnaxr_QSSzKC-3rxFuSWh6QUYBGs-BgkPt6lB7gJYLO3/s400/Crossing+Borders.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
New brush born in Phtshp. Too much free time...Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-83094391446143875882013-04-15T17:25:00.000+02:002013-11-06T00:15:45.363+01:00The Duoh Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lNRN7R6WDqVYSIESyl39Z4d21MaPk2juZThbFgyGfAfjLvjKseYyt_9_uBfAv88m7TL4uL6wkS9zroQJCSGNbGM0bd4aLVOO48aD8hU3YI4ZZXmhMSxMi2Rd8QCRiMxcSH_zbg/s1600/hh2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lNRN7R6WDqVYSIESyl39Z4d21MaPk2juZThbFgyGfAfjLvjKseYyt_9_uBfAv88m7TL4uL6wkS9zroQJCSGNbGM0bd4aLVOO48aD8hU3YI4ZZXmhMSxMi2Rd8QCRiMxcSH_zbg/s640/hh2.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI9qMkLr3uTQb3CEKyTRtV7RvQwKuGv50dT2TY06lUyd_Q-Hhrqc5kkL13ytpMSmVO5CTkQaquqvz7zQsmDeIYmn-werpX_DUSLw3f2U16dNJfqQsyWKgcssu_0ZPOoTbJ2t1NA/s1600/hh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI9qMkLr3uTQb3CEKyTRtV7RvQwKuGv50dT2TY06lUyd_Q-Hhrqc5kkL13ytpMSmVO5CTkQaquqvz7zQsmDeIYmn-werpX_DUSLw3f2U16dNJfqQsyWKgcssu_0ZPOoTbJ2t1NA/s640/hh1.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XScX2V9VARX-4PyW_S3FAZeYrwNI1FAmGC7M7wcZ-JqrYRvhJ2OLtTkWzCYjo2OMIfBy9QjSKUj73qud3Hp1LAkuklnRrGuo6GVnsWSpJYxMqUDhpn-k2W9968VF48TFk5UllA/s1600/hh3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XScX2V9VARX-4PyW_S3FAZeYrwNI1FAmGC7M7wcZ-JqrYRvhJ2OLtTkWzCYjo2OMIfBy9QjSKUj73qud3Hp1LAkuklnRrGuo6GVnsWSpJYxMqUDhpn-k2W9968VF48TFk5UllA/s640/hh3.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyL3_i4dNHHO4k3kaOxUZSSSEJVR_i-7ECH45ntmsHNruTKncZZopRzsrqd34BHRi4fLCHLBQmHmMn05v_ehHUmk4Y-D4bEZyeCe_nIEzJjXuGL0BMoZagRUpCOSf7JSM47guVg/s1600/hh6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyL3_i4dNHHO4k3kaOxUZSSSEJVR_i-7ECH45ntmsHNruTKncZZopRzsrqd34BHRi4fLCHLBQmHmMn05v_ehHUmk4Y-D4bEZyeCe_nIEzJjXuGL0BMoZagRUpCOSf7JSM47guVg/s640/hh6.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnq8EqhatiI6bIHWBqzH10u5g9qRssjXDG6xQlcyXKhTgOx4Bvk6YfdlhLGOSk437QoJ4J-mSYPCt42dITKMvVtBOdcEJ6zqVqvQ-tIgA4NFVko9N6_fy4RPF9_5Taqksp9UG1w/s1600/hh5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnq8EqhatiI6bIHWBqzH10u5g9qRssjXDG6xQlcyXKhTgOx4Bvk6YfdlhLGOSk437QoJ4J-mSYPCt42dITKMvVtBOdcEJ6zqVqvQ-tIgA4NFVko9N6_fy4RPF9_5Taqksp9UG1w/s640/hh5.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><br />Rewriting as an illustrated novella. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Duoh Report</span> was published for the first time in the defunct blog <span style="font-style: italic;">The World Seen From A Head</span> in the first half of 2009, with a type of illustration better suited for a report published in a blog.Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-80933594288204151562013-03-12T19:34:00.000+01:002013-05-10T22:23:58.662+02:00DIGITAL BORREGOS IN A DIGITAL WORLD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFymYZFPitPkUpAIqhhyphenhypheng75gXKjCEFV8g3C814ft13UeC6PlfUWXdnomY2wcEjKE0l0hO1ytpzF6WtRY05YAqD1C-f04h_Ry0B5B0blhBjpFBJOV0F4nFBT_ZCa3_iXfFDc8PUiQ/s1600/borregos7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFymYZFPitPkUpAIqhhyphenhypheng75gXKjCEFV8g3C814ft13UeC6PlfUWXdnomY2wcEjKE0l0hO1ytpzF6WtRY05YAqD1C-f04h_Ry0B5B0blhBjpFBJOV0F4nFBT_ZCa3_iXfFDc8PUiQ/s640/borregos7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Um destes dias, alguém entendido no assunto tomava uma ilustração executada com materiais convencionais (popularmente designado por “à mão”), por uma ilustração feita em computador (também feito à mão mas designado como “digital”). A distração pode ser apenas divertida, como também pode ser um sinal de que tudo volta à normalidade, que ficou para trás o tempo em que as máquinas faziam coisas sem intervenção humana e portanto facilmente identificáveis por não terem alma. Armados de um incompleto regresso, como são todos os regressos à normalidade, sentir-nos-emos agora à vontade para argumentar que tudo se resume a uma questão de gosto.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">O computador tem sido a minha quase perfeita caixa de ferramentas, arquivo, fonte de informação, lápis, papel, caneta, pincel e tintas. Para além do mais, fácil de transportar. Trabalho há anos com um pequeno HP510 agora a caminho da reforma, cujo ecrã faz fraca figura ao pé dos Macs do tamanho de janelas de autocarro que se costumam usar para estas coisas, mas que tem dado conta corajosamente do recado. Afinal não se pretende que ele execute design gráfico, mas apenas que conte boas histórias, complicadas de argumento mas agradáveis de ler.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Durante algum tempo não descansei enquanto não consegui executar nele todo o processo criativo. Só recentemente voltei a misturar desenho “à mão” com desenho “digital” e tenho que reconhecer que a mistura é mais rica. Aqui poderíamos eternizar a questão pois, no meu entender, há sempre o risco da mistura ser demasiado rica, rebuscada, gongórica, facilmente agradável, enjoativa e mais uns quantos classificativos que se poderiam usar sem exagero.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Regressando à normalidade. Desenho digital, coadjuvado ou não pelo desenho à mão, está aí, um pouco por todo o lado, e como há quantidade e diversidade de material que chegue para puxar pelo gosto, não há desculpa para arrumar com todo o digital duma só vez. Tanto pode ser digital de escola como digital desbravado a olho. Pode ser digital com forte sabor a digital, digital literalmente a dedo, digital decalcado, digital das distorções e dos efeitos 3D, digital depurado, de traço simples, digital com ferramentas definidas em Photoshop, digital que se vê logo que é Illustrator, digital simplório, fascinado pelo uso intensivo de airbrushing, digital disfarçado, com sabor a pintura a óleo, acrílico ou pastel, digital discreto, que não alardeia a sua digitalidade, e mais uma quantidade de pequenas e grandes variantes, não contando com a linha dura, os digitais pesados que fascinam multidões e que, para muita gente, é o único digital que merece esse nome,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Dizia uma visitante, a propósito da exposição de pintura de um conhecido artista britânico, cuja tinha sido preparada em iPad, “Está muito bom! Isto são árvores verdadeiramente inglesas”. Ora bem, que para digital pindérico não está nada mal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34459006.post-75694614547332357932013-03-10T00:28:00.000+01:002013-05-10T22:23:58.661+02:00VÁRIAS MANEIRAS DE MATAR GATOS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoWScLJwLLn8ryXkZK69bLH9v8yxieO2FiWl10ExGZ9k7eRCl813l_hMEVJ_PP39WSjzX44KILsc2yA4LABI01oiIYwYW-So6WmW3jr0U6ztnkuPS4xK6go6lsEJqxlhh_42aPw/s1600/borregos6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoWScLJwLLn8ryXkZK69bLH9v8yxieO2FiWl10ExGZ9k7eRCl813l_hMEVJ_PP39WSjzX44KILsc2yA4LABI01oiIYwYW-So6WmW3jr0U6ztnkuPS4xK6go6lsEJqxlhh_42aPw/s640/borregos6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">A acusação equivalia a crueldade literária sem fundamento ou proveito, e contestava a minha afirmação de que o homem gostava de gatos. Era pelo menos a sétima vez que batíamos no livro, ora porque soava a oco, ora porque estava salpicado de referências culturais que não estavam lá a fazer nada, incluindo no título. Agora eram os gatos.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Eu tinha lido algures que o autor metia gatos com frequência nos livros e lembrava-me de uma parte com gatos, que me tinha agradado e da qual não constava qualquer crueldade. De resto, o livro era um buraco na minha memória, entre uma série de avanços promissores e uns quantos finais tépidos.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Mas, para além da maldade de assim prender o leitor a nada de especial, havia a questão da crueldade. Um capítulo inteiro a matar gatos. Seiscentas páginas de avanços promissores e de finais tépidos e, ainda por cima, um capítulo inteiro a matar gatos sem qualquer necessidade ou proveito!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Disse que devia haver aí confusão, gato assassinado havia um, de um escritor japonês, tal como o anterior, lá dentro na prateleira de cima da estante da sala, cerca de cento e oitenta páginas de história bem agarrada e sem falsas promessas, com seis páginas de crueldade sobre um felino que não se esquecem facilmente.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Mas, por fim, tive que reconhecer existir, entre as seiscentas páginas, um capítulo inteiro de crueldade rapidamente esquecida. Quanta abundãncia de palavras para uma amnésia emocional!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="PT" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT;">Não sei se os outros livros deste autor também são assim. Sei que escreve um livro por ano, vende muito e é apoiado por uma incondicional corte de admiradores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Fernando Relvashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16094381145546168613noreply@blogger.com0