Cássio Vasconcellos, a renowned artist based in São Paolo, has dedicated over four decades to exploring the relationship between humans and the landscape. His work captures the essence of sprawling cities from a unique aerial perspective, showcasing intricate details of urban infrastructure like highways and parking lots. One of his most notable series, “Collectives,” focuses on abandoned trains, planes, and automobiles, highlighting the vast quantities of scrapped vehicles and metal left to languish in obscure locations.
In his latest series, “Collectives 2,” Vasconcellos delves into the mesmerizing world of junkyards, scrap heaps, and airplane graveyards. By meticulously piecing together thousands of aerial photographs taken from various locations, including São Paolo, Cubatão, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and desert landscapes in the U.S., he creates stunning composite images that challenge our perception of excess and visual overload in contemporary society.
One of his most striking works, “Over,” explores the concept of overflow and the persistence of discarded objects in our environment. Through a painstaking digital process, Vasconcellos cuts out individual shipping containers, trucks, dumpsters, and piles of detritus, arranging them in a surreal and thought-provoking composition. Each element is meticulously scaled and positioned to align with the direction of light, enhancing the sense of realism and timelessness in his artwork.
Despite the absence of human figures in his images, Vasconcellos’s work speaks volumes about our societal tendencies to consume and discard without considering the long-term consequences. By showcasing landscapes filled with abandoned vehicles and industrial debris, he prompts viewers to reflect on the impact of our actions on the environment and the legacy we leave behind for future generations.
Represented by the Nara Roesler Gallery, Cássio Vasconcellos continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art with his evocative and visually stunning compositions. Through his website and Instagram profile, art enthusiasts can explore more of his captivating work, which offers a unique perspective on the relationship between humans, technology, and the ever-changing landscape of our modern world. New research shows that the key to a longer, healthier life may be as simple as incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet. A study published in the journal Nature Communications found that those who followed a primarily plant-based diet had a lower risk of developing chronic diseases and lived longer than those who consumed more animal-based foods.
The study, which looked at over 100,000 adults in the United States over the course of 30 years, found that those who adhered to a plant-based diet had a 32% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 25% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who consumed more animal-based foods.
Plant-based diets are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, which are all known to be high in essential nutrients and antioxidants. These foods have been shown to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol levels, and improve overall heart health, all of which are important factors in preventing chronic diseases.
In addition to the health benefits, plant-based diets have also been shown to have a positive impact on the environment. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. By reducing the amount of animal products in our diets, we can help reduce our carbon footprint and lessen our impact on the planet.
There are many ways to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet. Start by adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals, replacing meat with plant-based protein sources like tofu, tempeh, or beans, and experimenting with new plant-based recipes. Making small changes over time can have a big impact on your health and the health of the planet.
Overall, the research is clear – a plant-based diet can lead to a longer, healthier life. By making simple changes to your diet and incorporating more plant-based foods, you can improve your health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and help protect the environment. So why not give it a try and see the benefits for yourself?
