Portugal, Travel

ARty Lisbon – A REvisit

Suzanne

Why go back to Lisbon for the 2nd time? As I mentioned in a previous post, we had the option between London and Lisbon.  We have visited London numerous times and Lisbon only once.  Both have multiple galleries, shops, cafes, and museums worth visiting, but one city has warmer weather.  Lisbon won, hands down.  One of the many reasons I love Lisbon and Portugal as a whole is that they are immensely artistic.

Where can you find art in Lisbon?

From wandering the streets, we have seen fantastic street art to the detailed fine art of the azulejos in churches. I believe that the Portuguese excel in creating handicrafts, with many being passed down from an old age tradition.  Designing and making things appear to be an innate trait of the Portuguese.  During our travels, we have come across many beautiful crafts that are locally made.  Designs that combine natural materials, traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary touch or with humour [a picture of sardine with the words “Just keep on swimming”, comes to mind].

My view of art leans more towards the quirky, the different sorts of art forms where the Squire requires a more structured shape and function for the purpose of illustration. Which makes our search for eye candy a rather exciting exploration.  Let’s face it: if the structured form comes with an engine, he is a happy man.  Though one place we both love to visit, and we often do when exploring various cities, is bookstores. These are far more interesting if they are quirky or hold on their shelves books on computer programming, art, travel, autobiographies and photography.

Let’s shorten the art direction for this post to one particular art form that I indulge in daily.  That, of course, is photography. With my trusty mobile camera.  Out of complete easiness and a lack of suitcase room, I have chosen not to carry any camera equipment, just the unflappable up-to-date mobile camera.  At the moment, does serve me well to produce photographs that can be used on my blog alongside a few words to describe our travels.

One local Lisbon photographer’s work that did ignite much interest between the Squire and me was a photographer by the name of Camilla Watson.

We saw her work, “A Tribute”, on the walls of buildings in the old part of Lisbon called Beco das Farinha’s Mouraria. As we made our way through the narrow street, we got a real sense of belonging between the portraits and the walls on which they stood proudly, with both belonging to each other.  She has beautifully captured the residents’ individual spirits and that of this old part of Lisbon with her photography. Then, they printed their portraits on the walls. As her way of honouring the people who live in the buildings in which they call home.

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In Camilla’s own words in an interview with the Evening Standard “I have always worked in collaborative projects with communities,” says Watson. “And it had always frustrated me that when I had exhibits, they were in a ‘gallery’ and so far away in spirit from the communities and people who were the subjects. I wanted the community – the elderly to be part of the project and to exhibit in a place that was part of their everyday lives. So that they could enjoy it too.”

It is also an excellent way for visitors to share a glimpse of a culture in a personal way.  All that needs to be done is for people to stop and absorb what Camilla has captured.  What made the experience more satisfying was the little café we stopped to enjoy an expresso.  It was like we were meeting the friends of the people we had viewed.

 

Published by Suzanne

Travel and Life Musings from New Zealand and Beyond. . . . . . .

54 thoughts on “ARty Lisbon – A REvisit”

  1. I see you are being ARtsy with your title as well! What a wonderful project and idea this community integrated photography work is. Very original and personal. And, I loved your description of “meeting” the neighbors in regards to the people you met through Camilla’s work. PS: I’d choose Lisbon over London any time as well. For the weather, and because I have never been there. Or the whole of Portugal for that matter!!

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    1. Thanks Liesbet, a bit of a lightbulb moment 🙂 Yes, it was a highlight of our visit and doing more walking around the old part of the city. Did you find a warmer spot to park up? Or are you housesitting now?

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      1. Finishing our cold house sit in Colorado today and leaving in Zesty to warmer areas in Utah tomorrow. We have 12 days (of camping) to visit the area between here and San Diego, CA, so pretty excited about that. As long as we can combine it with work. A “half-vacation”. 🙂

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        1. Sounds great Liesbet. We do miss the camping lifestyle, every now and again. We seem to be more energised with a break in between housesits 🙂 Glad to hear you are heading to a warmer environment.

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    1. You are welcome Carol 🙂 It is an amazing idea and it was such a wonderful experience. The photos made the street come alive.

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  4. Thank you for sharing Carol Watson’s photography with us, Suz. I love her collaborative spirit and her desire to make her art a part of everyday life for the community around her.

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    1. You are welcome, Donna. Carol Watson’s concept is wonderful and much appreciated by the locals who she photographed and visitors to the area. I loved that she brought her art out into the open instead of leaving it hung up in a studio which can be intimidating for many people.

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    1. Well Jan, I look forward to your write up about Portugal when you go 🙂 Most of the time we were walking in the shade around the city. The waterfront is a different story. I too have a hat with me at all times.

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  9. I love that you both recognise your differences in relation to art and make it work so well. I also love the ‘just keep swimming’ humourous touch. Great story and artworks to share with us all, thanks Suz!

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  13. Such beautiful photos- both yours and Camilia’s. Portugal is such a beautiful country I loved reading your take on it as not ever reason immersed myself in the artistic side although reading your post I was nodding along, really enjoy reading your posts there is always so much to learn

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  14. Really loved the photos, thanks for sharing! Lisbon has one of the best street art scenes in the world and it’s everywhere! Lived there during my summer and fell in love with the city and the people!

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    1. Thanks Stefanie, you were fortunate to spend a summer in Lisbon. We enjoyed finding more street art that adds more character.

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    1. Thanks, Nilla. I love spending time blogging it’s my time out being creative and with travelling so much it’s great to connect with more people like yourself 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Christie, I am sure you would love to explore Lisbon, we certainly noticed an increased popularity with it from our first visit.

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  18. Love this Suzanne. We went to Portugal years ago, but it was January, we walking up in the mountains, no street wandering as it was closed for the season. I’d love to go back to experience these beautiful places. The artwork is fantastic, I love the photographs. Wonderful 😊

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    1. Thanks Sam, the photographer has done such an amazing job bringing to life the old part of Lisbon. Oh the mountain walks would have been amazing. Wasn’t aware that Lisbon closed off its streets due for the winter period. Though some of them there is no way you would want to be on them if black ice was an issue!! Very steep!

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  19. Thank you, Suzanne, for joining in with my photography invitation. I’m traveling now and am able to read the post, but none of the photos are showing. I don’t know why because I can see other people’s photos. Anyway, I’m happy to link to my next photography post of October 3. 😊😊 Maybe once I return home to my computer on October 4, I’ll be able to see the photos!

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    1. Oh dear, the reason for not seeing the photos could be due to my moving posts from Globalhousesitterx2 to Lifeatno22. I may need to do some work on them. Unfortunately, I can see them and so a bit tricky to work out which posts aren’t including photo. Might have to get back to you with a more recent one.

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        1. WordPress help desk shifted all my posts from Globalhousesitterx2 to Lifeatno22. What I have now discovered is that many of my old posts are not displaying the photos when I use another computer. At my end I can see them. Very frustrating and a long hours trying to redo them, though will just do a few at a time or completing redo them.

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      1. Thanks Suzanne! I can see the photos now. I love this artist’s work, plus the scenes of Lisbon’s streets. And that first colorful photo is amazing. 😊

        Is the link on this different, because it looks like the same post. I can see my original comment.

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