Public Art Extraordinaire

Rural life in the sierra
Rural life in the sierra

It is not just the countryside and buildings which I find inspiring in Algarve, there is also their art in public spaces.

In England our sculptures in public places tend to focus on commemorating someone’s achievements, and it’s usually a bloke being remembered so you can end up with a very patriarchal view of British achievements and life.

Swifts on a wall in Loulé
Swifts on a wall in Loulé
Boy with the Big Eyes in Olhão
Boy with the Big Eyes in Olhão

They have that problem here too, but they seem to be changing as most of the new public art we have seen in the east Algarve portrays a legend, social history or wildlife and there are women!  So much more inspiring and so much more interesting.  Here are a few we have stumbled across so far.

Lenda da Floripes - click on picture to find out more
Lenda da Floripes in Olhão
Alcoutim, once a haven for smuggling from Spain
Smugglers in Alcoutim
Watching for Smugglers in Alcoutim
Watching for Smugglers in Alcoutim
Selling her goods at Loulé market
Selling her goods at Loulé market
Portugeuse fisherman in Alcoutim
Portuguese fisherman in Alcoutim
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A series of statues in Silves honouring one of the Moorish kings of the Algarve
Roundabout in the centre of Loulé
Roundabout in the centre of Loulé

We also love the art on roundabouts, but that’s a post for the future!

Music forever on Loulé's bandstand
Music forever on Loulé’s bandstand

In the meanwhile pop across to these posts, which explore in more depth the lack of monuments celebrating female achievements and lives – Erasure of Women from Public Spaces, Monumental Women and Dearth of Statues Honouring Women

Portugeuse life in the Sierra depicted in wonderful tile murals
Portuguese life in the Sierra depicted in wonderful tile murals

Author: BeckyB

It had been a good life walking, cooking, photographing, volunteering, blogging, and best of all spending time with MrB, family, & friends. Sadly it is no longer what it was, as suddenly and unexpectedly I became a widow.

5 thoughts

  1. I recognise all of the sculptures, Becky, but I don’t know those tiles in the last shot. Where are they situated? Have a Happy Easter! Will you be going to Sao Bras for the procession? It’s beautiful. 🙂

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