SEA

MOTTO

is a vast extension of salt water.

is an idea expressed by a sentence, guiding or spurring on a person, group, country or nation.

---

Within the scope of the Mar Motto project, which is run by SCIAENA with the support of Faro Council, a partnership was established that sought to combine artists and the community so that they may reflect on the Sea and its multiple dimensions.
​
Public art exhibitions held throughout the municipality of Faro arose have arisen from this partnership.

"FISHING AND FISH"

This is the title of the 45m mural created by artist Tiago Hesp, urban art located on Rua Pintor Carlos Porfírio. In addition to creating this mural, Tiago Hesp also ran a workshop held by Sciaena and the Faro Municipal Council on the 4th and 5th of June 2019, at Tomás Cabreira Secondary School, which aimed to boost the project’s interaction with Faro’s local community. To ensure this aim was met, the workshop was attended by Visual Arts students and students from a PIEF (Integrated Programme for Education and Training) class at the secondary school, who worked together on an art project.
​

"LOOKING AT THE RIA"

Such is the name of a mural created by local artist, Xavier Franck (João Bernardo), designed in honour of the Ria Formosa and the communities whose livelihoods depend on it, aiming, above all, to draw attention to the need to preserve this natural heritage. Located on the back of the Algarve Life Sciences Centre, it was created with contributions from shellfish harvesters and fishermen who work on the Ria Formosa, as well as docked boats that contributed to the development of the work’s graphic elements.

"LOOM"

To raise awareness among the local community and visitors to the island to the problem of marine littering, Ana Pêgo (a biologist and artist known for her work “Plasticus Maritimus”) built a loom out of fishing ropes made of multicoloured plastic, that were either left behind or washed up on Culatra’s beaches. Leaving the loom unfinished, the artist hopes locals and visitors to the island can keep working on it, adding all the debris they may find on the beach. 

"THE ISLAND’S AWAKENING"

David Mota, whose artistic name is “Curtiço”, ran a workshop for young people on Culatra island on using cork to create inspiring pieces of art. Curtiço also created a mural near the new playground, in which he addresses the theme of “The Island’s Awakening” using graffiti, cork and other materials to create his traditional cork style along the main road to the beach. Due to the heat and the island’s other specific characteristics, as well as the locations of the murals, they were damaged (mainly the cork) and Scieana is working to recover the pieces.
In addition to these works of art, young director Ana Monteiro also plans to make a short film about the Culatra community. This work has been ongoing, and the director is collecting information and images in order to proceed further. As soon as it is finished, we will post an announcement on our online platforms.

Perhaps due to its perfect geographical location, the Algarve reveals a huge draw, leading to people gathering here in a way that is unique to any region in Portugal. As such, and in order to recognise the richness of our region as a whole, from the very beginning a there has been a desire to include the entire region in Faro’s bid for European Capital of Culture.