Jocei Ribeiro was born in the city of Arari. He started drawing in his childhood and became a professional artist in 1980, painting walls during political campaigns. After that, he started making panels, murals, advertising work, and silk-screen printings. He stepped away from art for 10 years when he took a public position in the municipality of Arari. Currently, he is a micro-entrepreneur in the visual communication business and continues to exercise his art.
He created the work “Our Origins” to arouse reflections on the various stories told about the origin of the name of the city of Arari. The work points to various versions, expressed by native and nature symbols of the region, such as the Indians, represented by the Araribóia ethnic group; the macaw, representing the Tupi-Guarani language; the Pororoca, which is a natural phenomenon in the region, and the cultivation of watermelons, which is a common activity in the city.