Liberdarte

Entre Memoria e Utopia

In September 2024 I was awarded a residency in the village of Alte, Algarve, Portugal.
The aim was to examine ideas of Utopia, with reference to the idealism at the time of the Carnation Revolution of 1974.

I chose to work in the community, meeting artists, craftswomen, residents, and the students of schools in Loule and Quarteira.

Using (literal) hands-on techniques, I made a book 'Utopia Nas Suas Maos' ('Utopia In Your Hands') to hold and remember their thoughts, concerns and answers.

This project was carried out in collaboration with MaisUno+1.

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In the studio of artist Daniel Vieira, who shared his experience of Lisbon during the revolution, as well as his idea of Utopia, while making cyanotypes of his hands
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Visiting the workshop of Da Terra Briquedos, where three remarkable women have been making toys from natural local materials for over 30 years
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I spoke with many local people during the residency. During our conversation we made cyanotype images of both hands. One was a gift to them. On the other they wrote their idea of utopia, and it was included in the final book
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A final thought from a young man. For him, Utopia is:

'Peace and Love,
Loyal Friends
Football'