João Pina: Tarrafal Concentration Camp Exhibit at MNAC
A profound new exhibition exploring one of the darkest chapters of Portuguese history is set to open at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Lisbon. Featuring approximately 250 images, letters, and films, “Have You Seen the Sea? Memories of Tarrafal” by photographer João Pina offers an intimate look at the notorious Tarrafal concentration camp through the lens of family history.
A Discovery in a Summer Night
The seeds of the exhibition were sown on a summer night in 2019 when Pina opened a long-forgotten family box. Inside, he discovered a treasure trove of letters, photographs, and documents belonging to his grandfather, Guilherme da Costa Carvalho, who was held as a political prisoner at Tarrafal on Santiago Island, Cape Verde, between 1949 and 1951.
Curated by Emília Tavares, the exhibition weaves together three generations of imagery: original photographs taken by Pina’s great-grandfather during visits to the camp, reproductions Pina created from archival negatives, and new work captured by the photographer over the last several years. The result is a multi-layered narrative that bridges the gap between private family trauma and collective national memory.
The Sea: A Barrier to Freedom
The title of the exhibition, “Have You Seen the Sea?”, stems from a poignant question asked by Pina’s great-grandfather in a letter to his imprisoned son. The answer, however, was far from romantic. While the ocean surrounded the camp, it served as a brutal reminder of isolation.
“My grandfather ended up replying that they only went to the sea every now and then because the latrines were emptied there,” Pina explained. “His father’s concern then shifted from whether he could see the beauty of the water to, ‘be careful of the sharks.'”
For the prisoners, the Atlantic was not a source of contemplation but a “barrier to escape and a barrier to freedom,” Pina says. Despite the grim reality, the photographer was moved by the “unconditional love” found in the correspondence—a son in a vulnerable position trying desperately to reassure his parents back home.
Beyond the Lens
Spanning nine distinct sections in the Galeria Capelo Sul, the exhibition moves beyond traditional photography. Visitors will encounter drawings, silk-screen prints, and three films based on survivor testimonies and Pina’s own reflections. A central corridor features a haunting series of images showing the photographer’s great-grandmother, Herculana da Costa Dias Carvalho, laying flowers at each of the 32 graves of prisoners who died at the camp.
“I try to play with various mediums so the public understands that photography is just the starting point,” Pina said, noting that this three-dimensional experience offers a different perspective than his 2024 book, Tarrafal.
“Have You Seen the Sea? Memories of Tarrafal” opens on October 22 and will remain on display in Lisbon until January 24, 2027. The exhibition is then scheduled to move to the Alfândega do Porto, where it will be showcased from March to July 2027.
Image: Pexels – Nico Marín
