This is a memorial for Carlos de Oliveira Júnior, known online as @vamoss. He passed away on January 24th, 2025, leaving a wonderful legacy of art and community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and surviving in the memories of the many lives he touched along the way.
The loss of his absence is incalculable. We all lost an immensely kind and generous soul, a fantastic human being, a genuine and dedicated artist and a friend. And in a personal touch, I lost my best friend. I started this memorial during a trip to Japan, which he was supposed to join, as a celebration for having landed a major art installation as a finally independent artist, in the Museum of Tomorrow, in Rio. Now grief accompanies me, where I bring his memory and a celebration of his art.
I am writing this memorial to honour his enthusiasm and his artistry with creative coding, which was what got us together along since I first met him in 2011. He also fostered a thriving digital community of artists, named Encontros Digitais, uniting artists from all around Brazil.
A saudade é o azar de quem teve muita sorte, e eu tenho a sorte imensa de ter compartilhado tempo contigo. Vai em paz, querido Carlito. Vai fazer o grande além bem mais belo com a tua arte.