Um Ser-Tão Forte: Family Farming’s Resistance and Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis

The exhibition “Um Ser-Tão Forte: Family Farming’s Resistance and Resilience in the Face of the Climate Crisis” showcases the challenges and resilience of small-scale farmers in Brazil’s Semi-arid region as they confront the impacts of a changing climate. Through 20 powerful photographs, the exhibition captures the essence of rural life that — though deeply affected by climate change — continues to endure, adapt, and innovate in response to new climate realities. Each image tells the story of farming families who, rooted in agroecological practices and traditional knowledge, face and overcome the hardships brought on by an increasingly unstable environment. This exhibition is organized by the Sabiá Center for Agroecological Development, a nonprofit that for over 30 years has worked to promote and build fairer, more sustainable food systems in the state of Pernambuco.

The exhibition offers an immersive journey through the landscapes of Pernambuco’s Semi-arid region, stretching from the Agreste to the Sertão, areas deeply impacted by the climate crisis and facing serious risk of desertification. This same Sertão, which unjustly bears the brunt of a crisis it did not cause, also holds valuable lessons on how to live with it. Historically marked by high temperatures and scarce rainfall, the region has long adapted to its harsh environment. Here, adversity is met with ancestral wisdom and sustainable solutions.

“Um Ser-Tão Forte” (the title of the exhibition plays with the word Sertão, a term that refers to Brazil’s Semi-arid backlands. In Portuguese, “Ser” means “to be,” and “Tão” conveys intensity, similar to “so” or “very.” Taken literally, the title could be translated as “A Stronger Land and People”) is a celebration not only of the beauty and strength of rural life in the Sertão, but also a challenge to outdated portrayals of the region as poor, bleak, and full of people in need. We invite you to set aside these preconceptions and see with new eyes, through the art of photography, the vital role that family farming plays in building a more resilient, sustainable future with real, nourishing food on the tables of both rural and urban communities. Join us on this visual journey, filled with stories of resistance, adaptation, and above all, hope.

Exhibition Details:
Text: Carlos Magno Morais
Curators: Carlos Magno Morais & Darliton Silva
Photography: João Roberto Ripper | Ana Mendes | Nay Jinkings | Luca Zanetti | Túlio Martins | Sabiá Center Archive