Heritage in Transit: Art Bridging Portugal and Africa
Clay, textiles, and the haunting echoes of colonial migration converge this Sunday at the Central das Artes in Porto de Mós. The exhibition, titled “Heritage in Transit – Memory, Land, and Body between Cape Verde, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe,” serves as a poignant prelude to the 2027 São Tomé and Príncipe Biennial of Art and Culture.
The showcase is the culmination of an intensive artistic residency held in September at the Real Factory Creative Hub in Juncal. The project brought together a diverse group of visual artists, researchers, and master potters to explore the shared histories of territories once colonized by Portugal and the knowledge passed down through generations.
Fusing Ancestry with Contemporary Art
“We brought together master potters and visual artists to test the red clay of Porto de Mós,” explained curator Ricardo Barbosa Vicente. “From that raw material, we created a fusion between ancestry and contemporary art.”
The residency acted as a laboratory for cross-cultural dialogue. Participants included renowned artists such as Eduardo Malé (São Tomé and Príncipe), Ana Marta Clemente, Énia Pais, Mariana Maia Rocha, and Virgínia Fróis. They worked alongside master potters João Coelho of Porto de Mós and Isabel “Laitina” Tavares from Cape Verde, blending local Portuguese techniques—such as traditional Juncal tile-making—with African artistic sensibilities.
From Slavery to Modern Migration
The works on display offer a visceral look at the colonial legacy. Artist Eduardo Malé adapted his piece “Neo-Levitation” to focus on the human foot, symbolizing both the history of slavery and the contemporary “desire for migration” in search of better living conditions.
Other artists explored more personal terrains. Énia Pais used clay to reinterpret the maternal bond through the form of her own body, while Ana Marta Clemente focused on the “memory of the home” and how culture shifts as people move across borders. Mariana Maia Rocha translated her doctoral research into physical objects that bridge the gap between academic theory and artistic expression.
A Bridge to the 2027 Biennial
This exhibition represents a vital stepping stone for the XI Biennial of Art and Culture of São Tomé and Príncipe, scheduled to run from June 25 to August 31, 2027. By starting the creative process in Portugal, the project highlights the enduring, interconnected relationship between these three nations.
“Heritage in Transit” opens this Sunday at 4:00 PM at the Central das Artes in Porto de Mós. The exhibition will remain open to the public until January 31, 2027, offering a deep dive into the materials, memories, and migrations that continue to shape the Lusophone world.
Image: Pexels – Salaheddine Es-sellak
