Marcelo Moscheta is an artist born in 1976, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. Moscheta now resides and works from Coimbra, Portugal. Practising as an artist since 2000, this creator combines strong social/historical/geographical concepts with hands-on work. Their artistic journey involves exploring remote locations, gathering elements from nature, and translating them into drawings, photographs and more. They craft installations and objects, focusing on the relationships between humans and their surroundings, technology and memory, as well as identities and nomadic lifestyles. Moscheta’s primary interests lie in displacement, territory, landscape, and memory.
Moscheta first visited Folkestone in July 2023 – a research trip which introduced him to many landscapes and people. In particular, Mel Wrigley (White Cliffs Countryside Partnership), a scientist working in the field of geology and nature. Wrigley took Moscheta on a walk along Folkestone’s ‘chalk ridgeway’ and opened his eyes to the landscapes’ abundant geological and historical story.
Together with Wrigley, Moscheta created a walking experience for the community of local residents. The walk was a chance to be immersed in a unique exploration of art, history, and the enduring connection between humans and the land. Participants were given ‘field notebooks’, which Moscheta designed, for note taking, sketching etc. Participants were invited to see not only the beauty of the landscape but to explore it creatively and learn about it scientifically. The walk ended at The Warren Beach, Folkestone, and participants were invited to come and witness Moscheta’s exhibition.
Welcome to “Milky Way Project,” an immersive exploration of Folkestone as a geology library, where the very ground beneath your feet speaks the ancient language of Earth’s genesis. This captivating project by Portugal-based artist Marcelo Moscheta invites you to embark on a backwards time journey, navigating a landscape that whispers of its former life beneath the sea.
Folkestone’s geologic narrative unfolds through Marcelo’s lens, weaving a tale of lithic experiences and trades. The persistent atmosphere mirrors the eons-old conversation between elements and humanity, etched into the grasslands and cliffs of the Geopark. As you traverse the exhibition space at The Urban Room Folkestone, you’ll find yourself stepping into a realm where time is not a linear concept but a geological dance, and every element bears witness to the intricate choreography of Earth’s history.
At the heart of the project lies Marcelo’s meticulous research and experimentation. The artist’s commitment to understanding the geological nuances of Folkestone is evident in the way each piece reflects the white erosion and sedimentation of the chalk, telling a story of transformation and adaptation over millennia. The resulting collection captures the essence of a land shaped by the delicate interplay of time and elemental forces.
The SALT + EARTH festival serves as the perfect backdrop for this exhibition, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Folkestone’s geological evolution. The Urban Room becomes a sanctuary for contemplation, where Marcelo’s work transcends the boundaries of traditional art, inviting viewers to engage with the tangible echoes of Earth’s distant past.
“Milky Way Project” is not merely an art exhibition; it’s a dialogue with the Earth itself. The juxtaposition of ancient geological formations with contemporary artistic expression challenges us to reflect on our place in this vast timeline. It encourages us to appreciate the transient nature of our surroundings and to recognize that the land we tread upon was once part of a grander, aqueous tableau.
Join us on this journey through time and terrain, where the whispers of a bygone sea resonate through each exhibit. Marcelo Moscheta’s artistic odyssey in Folkestone invites you to witness the beauty of an encounter between elements and humanity, frozen in the geological memory of this remarkable landscape.
Curatorial text by Jacob Bray