PUBLIC ART

Ecos debaixo dos azulejos (Echoes beneath the tiles)
Prisma estudio Art residency
Lisbon, portugal

This mural reimagines the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami, blending historical memory with symbolic imagery. At the top left, a contemplative fado woman (an embodiment of Lisbon’s soul) sits at the edge, gazing down at an ocean formed by traditional blue azulejo tiles, which evoke the city’s architectural identity now submerged. Sea turtles swim below, accompanied by butterflies drifting upward, both symbolizing migration and the passage of time. Some of these creatures might be fleeing natural disaster, but most of them from the enduring forces of imperialism that displace lives and cultures, echoing Portugal’s own colonial past. The scene captures a delicate balance between loss and resilience, where memory, culture, and identity continue to surface even after history’s waves have swept through... 🌊