Mother of the Moon — Urutau

This piece is about longing.

Created as the final project for the Arte Revide Mentorship, led by Gustavo Pelissari, this illustration explores the figure of the “Mother of the Moon,” inspired by the myths surrounding the urutau — a bird deeply tied to sorrow, silence, and transformation within Brazilian folklore.

According to the legend, the urutau carries the spirit of a young indigenous woman who fell in love with an enemy warrior. Forbidden from living this love, she flees after his death and transforms into the nocturnal bird that, to this day, mourns her loss among the branches of the forests.

I wanted to capture this silent melancholy through lunar symbolism, indigenous spirituality, and ornamental shapes inspired by Art Nouveau aesthetics. The composition was built to evoke the feeling of a sacred nocturnal entity suspended between myth and memory.

Special thanks to
https://www.artstation.com/gustavopelissari
https://www.artstation.com/motta
https://www.artstation.com/pedrodutra14
for the artistic direction, mentorship, and support throughout this journey.