Restless Jo and I must have been following in each others footsteps back in November as a few days before she captured the beginnings of some great murals on the walls of the Museu do Rio in Guerreiros do Rio, we had also passed by. I had failed though to take any photographs on that occasion, consequently by the time we passed by again there was more scaffolding and the cat had appeared.
The murals, Olhares sobe o Guadiana, are another great Associação Satori project (see also the murals in Olhão) and were commissioned for Alcoutim’s Festival do Contrabando. Last year’s festival, as in 2020, had been affected by Covid19, but the innovative town council in Alcoutim came up with a great variation Tráfico de Artes no Guadiana. We might miss the fun of the music, the smugglers and walking across the Guadiana but two years of arts is going to leave a wonderful and longer lasting legacy than the usual festival itself. They certainly have already drawn us back again as when I heard the murals have been finished in mid December, I couldn’t wait to return to our favourite cafe on the banks of the Rio Guadiana for a pre walk cake and coffee. The cafe, you see doesn’t just have great cake it is also opposite the museum!
The mural artists are João Frazão aka Homo Sapien and Renato Brito aka Exame de Consciência. I’ve yet to find anything more on the first artist, but the latter is based in the Algarve and it would seem from their Instagram account created the fishing hands and cat. The cat you may recall from Jo’s post began with all those amazing scribbles and notations, but now look at it.
In November I was intrigued by the blank space, and wondered if it was intentional. It wasn’t as now there is a kingfisher, its Portuguese name Guarda-rios probably explains why this was chosen out of all the birdlife we see on this river. There again the colours do work fabulously.
I just love the way Portugal has embraced street art in rural areas as well as cities, and that local government are using it to capture and share the stories of the local community as well as to promote their villages, towns and cities. Long may it continue.
How fabulous to come across all this artwork. I do like a cafe with great views and great cake!
Best kind of cafe there is – although frustratingly this one no longer does my favourite tea!
Fabulous – especially after seeing an earlier stage at Jo’s. Love the cat.
I know, superb early researcher I have here and she is so lovely too 🙂
Forgot to say that I am amazed by the cat!
Extraordinary what appeared out of those notations you saw – do glad you captured them
Yay! Thank you so much for ‘filling in the blanks’ and all the info. This week has been a bit fraught and I have no idea when we’ll get back up thet way. I love it!
My pleasure but sorry to learn you’ve had a fraught week. Really hope things get better soon xxx
It’s all tied in with the housing situation for James but hopefully it’s very near sorted. Thanks, hon!
Fingers crossed 🤞
What cool art work and talent 😀 😀
It isn’t it, and love that there are different styles
How wonderful that you have gone back to see the finished murals, they are lovely and I can see why the café would be a favourite spot. Do you and Jo ever meet up whilst you are over there?
It is only a mile or so from our starting point for multiple walks so rare for us not to be in the vicinity 🙂
And yes we have done so in the past for coffee and sometimes lunch which has been lovely. Never for walks though, our approaches are too different!!
Maybe when Mum is over? I imagine she is one of your expected visitors?
Sadly not. She really doesn’t like foreign travel, and with all the Covid19 tests I can understand why.
Hopefully though we’ll have a grand daughter here 😊 and obviously her parents.
Wow! That will be amazing. If you have time give me a shout and we’ll arrange something but I’ll understand if not.
Will do xx
Street art is becoming so popular and I’m always on the lookout. I was amazed that my humble home town had some brilliant ones
These ones have so bright and colourful and really represent Portugal well
They are so fabulous, and as you say really represent Portugal 🇵🇹 👏
The Kingfisher is superb 🙂
It is rather, although I’m glad they’re not this size for real!
Reckon!!! I should do a Kingfisher post especially for Margaret 😂
ooh do . . . either that or I am going to have to go visit her and find her local ones. She must have them in her local river
No that’s a good idea 🙂
I love these, especially the kingfisher, it’s stunning 🙂
It’s fabulous that one isn’t it
Thanks for sharing these stunning murals!
They are rather special aren’t they 🙂
Amazing work!
🙂
The blank space which became a kingfisher was a means of the artist indicating that they don’t really exist 😉
🤣 should have known you would read something into that!
🙂