JADE MONTE LIMA

Illustrator at Alga.

THE CITY TALK

JADE, YOU ARE A REAL CARIOCA (EDITOR’S NOTE: SOMEONE FROM RIO DE JANEIRO) AND YOU OBVIOUSLY LOVE RIO DE JANEIRO BUT AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE YOU WANTED TO MOVE TO NEW YORK. AND THEN YOU BECAME PREGNANT AND DECIDED TO STAY IN BRAZIL. WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS MISSING FROM YOUR LIFE TO WANT SUCH A DRASTIC CHANGE?
At the time I wasn’t happy with the studies in design that I had chosen to pursue and thought NY was the perfect place to study art which was what I really wanted to do. My boyfriend had a lot of job opportunities there and had already lived in NY for 8 years, and I guess I got a bit tired of Rio too. It can feel small in a certain way; you can easily find yourself turning around in circles. We felt stuck in a certain monotony and really wanted a change.

AND NOW WITH A CHILD, DO YOU THINK RIO IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE IN?
Yes I think so. It is home for me; it is where I grew up but at the same time it is not easy because it is really expensive. I want to have more kids, like maybe in a year, and sometimes we freak out on how many things we have to pay for. We also fear for the violence that is coming back but I hope I will be able to change some of these things for my child to feel safe. When I got pregnant I was thinking a lot about that: I felt the world was needing Gael (editor’s note: Jade’s son) like a new, fresh generation inspired by different parents from the ones we had. I am hopeful that Rio will change.
 

TELL ME ABOUT RIO. HOW DOES IT INSPIRE YOU?
It’s funny because in our #TheInspirationTalk I told you how I function and work best when in a cloudy mood, so when it is too sunny or too rainy, it’s hard for me. Meaning that Rio’s basic characteristics don’t inspire me that much (laughs). What inspires me is the personality of the people living here; everybody is so open, you can see through them. The soul of the cariocas inspire me.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN RIO?
I love that in the same day you can do so many different activities related to nature like going to the waterfalls, to the beach and then have a more urban life, like going to the movies or having dinner in a nice restaurant. I have a special affection for Rio since I was born here, but had I not been from here, I don’t know if I would love it like that… Whenever I walk around I remember so many stuff from my childhood, every corner of the city holds a memory, happy memories.

IS RIO UP TO THE LEVEL OF ANY BIG CITY WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD?
Since I got pregnant I started becoming more aware of what I was eating. It’s getting really easier to find organic food here. Usually I go to the Saturday organic market on Praça da Igreja de São José da Lagoa since I am up so early with the baby, but I also get delivered at home. 

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN RIO?
With baby: it’s the bakery la Bicyclette in Jardim Botanico since they have baby chairs and bread, respectively mine and Gael’s favourite things in a restaurant. Without baby: I think my favourite restaurant would be the one at the Clube dos Marimbas near the Copacabana Fort. It is an old men’s club where my dad and grand-father are members and where they used to take me when I was younger.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL AND HAVE SOME QUIET, PEACEFUL MOMENTS?
Secretario, a place near Petropolis in the interior of Rio. My family owns a house there which is my safe place.
 

BEST KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITY YOU DO IN RIO?
Square Pio XI where there is a playground. My son loves it there.

BEST ART SPOT?
I love to go to IMS (Instituto Moreira Salles)! I studied just across the street from it and used to go there all the time. I love the curatorship, the exhibitions…

BEST BOOKSTORE?
I used to read a lot, and always different things from what my friends were interested in. I love used books and making good deals on them, and in PUC (editor’s note : Pontifica Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro) I used to buy a lot during fairs. Today I actually arranged my bookshelf and realized I owned more art books than reading books. Sad. (laughs).

WHAT IS YOUR CARIOCA GUILTY PLEASURE?
Açai! I love the one they serve at BB lanches.

SOMETHING TRUE ABOUT RIO?
We have the best carnival on earth.

AMEN! THANK YOU JADE.
CHECK OUT JADE'S INSPIRATION TALK HERE AND BEAUTY TALK HERE.
FOLLOW ALGA HERE.

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ITW & CREATIVE DIRECTION: LISA DEBATTY
PHOTOGRAPHER: GABRIEL MENDES
BEAUTY ARTIST: PIU GONTIJO
STYLING: CRIS BARROS
PRODUCTION: OUI SIMONE
SPECIAL THANKS: ASSISTANT (AND BEST NANNY) CAMILLE DANTON :)

This portrait is part of a curated series of 4 portraits of artists representing free, feminine and inspiring women that OuiSimone imagined with Cris Barros.