LOUCO
A barber-turned sculptor, Bonaventura da Silva Filho became affectionately known as Louco or “madman” when, in the mid-1960s, he turned from shaving heads to shaping clay pipes and carving wood figures. Louco sold his wood sculptures at Salvador’s Mercado Modelo where they were noticed by the cultural elite of the city includeing Jorge Amado and Mario Cravo, who helped bring Louco’s work to national and eventually international attention. Louco’s wood carvings were included in many prominent, international exhibitions before he died in 1992. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Louco became recognized as a “master” in Cachoeira and passed on his knowledge and skills to many, including his late brother, Malouco; his son, Celestino; and nephews, Doidão and Mario Filho do Louco.

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