IN STEREO

There is a church that is really close to here. My boyfriend is from the area, and it was my turn, let’s say, to go there. It is a church that has been intervened in. You see the façade; it’s excellent. Inside, you see the remodelled floor, too. But I like to see the repositories that the churches have – there is a lot of heritage that is dying silently. I told them there are sculptures of the same category as the church of Copacabana. I approach a corner and find a rag wrapped, and I say, “It must be a canvas.” So I grab it, I tell my boyfriend to help me [and] we extend it. It is a beautiful painting. If you currently enter places like this, they robbed most of the paintings.

But up in the top where no one can get in – it is a bit unreachable, where only the pastor can go – are still many paintings. As I am a restorer, I said, “I will intervene – only help me with the materials. As we are from the area, we will paint it. Do not leave it like this.” But the people are very ignorant; they think you’re going to steal it. I was told by everyone, “Leave it.” And every time, I always find myself the little picture and say, “Look sir, your things are lying here. Lift it up; save it.” The man tells me, “Yes, yes, yes.” I leave, and it falls down or it lies on the floor. I don’t know what to do next. – Rosaura