The dandelion and the visual identity of the VI International Meeting of Paulo Freire Forum
After a long research process on the elements that could graphically translate the many meanings and senses of Paulo Freire Forum, we came across a curious image: the dandelion flower.
We found countless representations on that flower: photos, drawings, different creations, many of those with rich poetic contents. In parallel to the image research, we discovered information on the plant's phenology, origin, shape, analogies and different uses; the dandelion has an enormous variety of species. Reading texts and images, we realized there were many graphic and symbolic connexions to Paulo Freire's life and legacy and to the spirit of the Forum that carries his name. Therefore, because of its symbolic richness, its natural characteristics and its cultural meanings, we have decided to adopt the dandelion as a reference to creating the visual identity of the VI International Meeting of Paulo Freire Forum. Let's take a look now at some general information and analogies on that flower known to almost every culture in our planet.
Allegories of the dandelion and freirean pedagogy
As well as libertarian education, the dandelion flower does not stimulate possession, excessive attachment. It symbolizes freedom. When people blow it they wish to see its petals letting go and freely flying. When we come across it, we want to share, interact one with the other, experience it. Like the human being as described by Freire, the dandelion refers to the ideas of inconclusiveness, incompleteness and unfinished realizations. Its petals are always irregular, dispersed at a simple blow. In the same manner as freirean pedagogy, the dandelion, whose seeds spread extremely easily, taken by the wind, germinates and adapts to countless geographical realities in the world, what makes it extremely popular. In some cultural traditions, it means union, tolerance, hope.
Physical description
Dandelion is an universal name for a large number of plant species belonging to the botanical gender taraxacum. A wild flower in different colors (white, golden yellow, pink etc), it grows, generally, in turf and fields. In temperate climates, gardeners consider the dandelion a herb difficult to control, given its enormous capacity to reproduce. It has smooth leaves irregularly cut that resemble teeth. The flower is, in fact, a cluster of flower, which have smooth, rectilineal and hollow sticks. Every plant holds a milky sap. The root in point is long and thick. From it sprout ramifications similar to a thread of hair. It is different from most plants since its ovaries form fertile seeds that do not require pollination.
Origin:
This plant is known in the Northeast of Brazil as Hope. It is also called “dog lettuce” or “mole salad”. In children's games they are named “is your father bald?”, because, after blown, the image composition of the dandelion fruit with its flowers resembles a balding head.
The name of this plant comes from Norman culture, a people that, among others, used to live in the geographical space that is nowadays France. Probably, it is a reference to its foliage, whose shape resembles a lion's teeth. In the English speaking countries, its popular name, dandelion, is a variation of the original name adopted by the Saxons since the conquest of England by the Normans. Despite being originally from Eurasia, it is found in many parts of the world, in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. It is used as a medicine by many peoples due to its many medicinal properties.
Medicine:
Its root is used as a tonic, blood purifier, for rheumatisms, liver conditions and bladder, as a diuretic, laxative, appetite stimulator and to facilitate digestion, among other purposes. Its leaves are rich in vitamins A, B, C and D, and calcium, potassium and iron, other than being very savory while still young. The tea made from its leaves or roots helps controlling hypertension and heart defficiencies.
Culinary:
Nowadays, the dandelion is used for making wine, besides being a good digestive stimulant. The drink is one the fairylike creatures. Drink your tea to intensify your psychic skills. Choose a dandelion in a full moon night, call the Air's winged fairylike creatures, make a wish and blow the dandelion. It will surely be answered.
Dandelion /Polenta/ Recipe: Cut in very thin slices a portion of its leaves and cook in water with salt for about five minutes. In a deep pan, put oil, garlic, onions and let it cook. Put the dandelion stew. Add water and, when it starts boiling, add /fubá/, stirring it until it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.