Eduardo Kugler

His life and work

Eduardo Kugler was born in Santos, Brazil, in 1956. At a very young age, he started painting as an autodidact. Nowadays, as the main subject of his paintings, is the banana cultivation, the main source of income in Itariri, a small town where he grew up and has lived and maintained his studio.

Among his favorite themes, are the habits of the humble people of that region, who work on the land, harvesting and carrying banana and bamboo. Sometimes he depicts forest burning as a way of denouncing that kind of practice, still used to prepare the land for farming.

The place where he lives belongs to an environmentally protected area (Estação Ecológica do Parque da Juréia-Itatins), the biggest forest reserve in the state of São Paulo. That untouched environment has abundant flora and fauna, which inspire the artist and enrich his art.

His works have been exhibited widely in Brazil and he has won many awards with his art.

Atualmente tem como tema principal da sua obra a cultura da banana, principal economia de Itariri, pequena cidade onde cresceu, vive e mantém o seu atelier. Aborda ainda os hábitos e costumes da gente simples e humildes da região, que em parte trabalha no corte e carregamento da banana e no corte das touceiras de bambús. As vezes pinta as queimadas, como forma de denunciar essa prática ainda utilizada para o plantio na lavoura.
O lugar onde mora pertence à "Estação Ecológica do Parque da Juréia-Itatins", a maior reserva florestal do estado de São Paulo. Esse ambiente intocável possui uma rica flora e fauna abundante, que inspira Kugler para complementar a sua arte.
Em sua carreira, fez várias exposições e conquistou diversas premiações.