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The yellow hat. Unique mixed media painting, on 300 gr/m2 Bristol paper, 100×70 cm.
An old-time classic song and the true story behind it inspired me to create this painting. Written in 1962 by the composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and the poet Vinicius de Moraes, “The Girl from Ipanema” refers to the melancholy of an amorous man who admires a beautiful girl that “passes by” without paying any attention to him.
The two artists used to spend their afternoons in a small bar, located on the beach of Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, from where they had the opportunity to admire the beautiful girls of the area. Among them they spotted Heloisa (Helô) Paes Pinto, a resident of the Ipanema district, whose great looks and grace inspired them to write “The Girl from Ipanema” which over the years became the second-most recorded popular song in history Helô’s face is painted in black and white as she is “full of light and full of grace”, but with an indifferent look on her face. Around the girl and under her long blond hair cluster the low-gazing admirers, painted in an expressionistic blurry style. Μore emphasis has been given on the girl’s flashy hat which occupies the center of the composition and was painted in yellow, contrasting with the cerulean blue of the background. The hat brim follows a detailed op art geometric structure, favorite style of the 60s.
The yellow color stands for sunshine, hope, happiness, positivity, optimism, enlightenment, remembrance, intellect, honor and joy, all words with a positive meaning that attempt to balance the melancholic theme of the painting, in the same way the Brazilian rhythm balances the sad lyrics of this nostalgic song.