In Manaus, centennial monument is mischaracterized; experts disapprove the action

Priscilla Peixoto – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The historic monument to Tenreiro Aranha, founder of the Province of Amazonas, located in the 5 de Setembro Square, better known as Saudade Square, in the historic center of Manaus, won a new color in golden tone. Without the support of the Institute for National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), the intervention received several criticisms, mainly by historians. The painting was part of the reform made in the space by the Municipal Secretariat of Public Cleaning (Semulsp).

Fool’s gold

For historian Otoni Mesquita, the error comes to be recurrent, and recalls another similar episode that was also not well accepted by the majority. “It’s not the first time that the municipality’s public agents have missed the mark. It was already like this with the Adolpho Lisboa Market and with Tenreiro Aranha itself. It’s an obssession of wanting to do things without hiring restorers or consulting the Iphan”.

The historian complements criticizing the “erroneous” decision. “They painted Tenreiro as if he were a Venus. It is this mediocre thing of wealth associated with gold, with gilding. A fool’s gold, really”, says Mesquita.

Without support

Rejecting the act, the Institute for National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) demanded Semulsp to explain why the secretariat painted a nationally protected monument without the agency’s endorsement. The controversial intervention forced technicians, public agents and members of Iphan to hold an emergency meeting this Thursday afternoon, 12, at the “feet of the monument”.

According to Mauro Menezes, substitute superintendent of Iphan, “Any intervention in a protected area, as is the case of 5 de Setembro Square, which is part of the historical, architectural, and landscape set, needs to be submitted to Iphan, regardless of whether it is cleaning, complex restoration, or construction, the fact is that we have an ordinance that regulates the submission of a project, with Iphan, for review and subsequent approval”, he informed.

Still according to Mauro, the misunderstanding generated a mishap. “What happened here, unfortunately, was a botched administrative process, which did not submit the approval to Iphan. And, in fact, we were aware of this initiative and, therefore, we will have to issue a notice of violation regarding this intervention, and then a term of commitment, based on a technical report, about the impacts and possible solutions. This is the administrative rite”, he described.

Mauro put the Iphan at the disposal of the city for any intervention in the heritage sites of the city of Manaus so that the procedures are carried out properly. “We are at the disposal of all for future meetings with the agencies, to exchange information for the next interventions, so that we know how to do and act, in technical cooperation, to avoid bureaucratic exaggerations and, thus, to carry out the interventions in the best way. Our doors are open”, he concluded.

Project

According to Jack Serafim, undersecretary of communication of the municipality of Manaus, the ideal is to better plan the interventions in spaces like the 5 de Setembro Square. “It was a revitalization of the square that counted with the good will of all entities, with the intention of doing the best. We have a working group that is thinking about these actions and we will work more closely together to reach a consensus about these interventions in these spaces”, he said.

At the end of the meeting, Semulsp and Iphan technicians agreed to make a joint evaluation to find out how to revert the gold paint applied to Tenreiro Aranha’s statue and, thus, make the centennial monument return to its bronze color, which is the original color of the sculpture dedicated to the first governor of the Amazon Province.

History

João Batista de Figueiredo Tenreiro Aranha, or Tenreiro Aranha, as he is known, was the first governor of the Province of Amazonas. Son of poet Bento de Figueiredo Tenreiro Aranha and Rosalina Espinosa Solkman Tenreiro Aranha, he was born on June 23, 1798, in Belém do Pará, and died on January 19, 1861, also in the capital of Pará. He spent most of his life in Manaus, where he helped found the province.

The monument in his honor was erected at the 5 de Setembro Square, better known as Praça da Saudade. The construction of the sculpture was proposed by councilman Silvério Nery, on May 11, 1883, when the president of the province was José Lustosa da Cunha Paranaguá. The official name of the 5 de Setembro Square was formed in honor of the date of the Elevation of Amazonas to the category of Province, a homage also to Tenreiro Aranha, who fought for the autonomy of the State, separating the State from the State.