07/11/2024
Art captures the reality of time. Transforming the present to remind future viewers of those who came before, their trials, and their contribution to the very existence lived.
Off the beaten path of the tourist area of Lisbon is a quiet neighborhood filled with corner cafés, family-run restaurants, and laundry hung outside the window, signaling clues of which lives here, with baby clothes to adult sweaters. The alleyways between homes serve as a tribute: walking art gallery, sharing the testimony to those who watched over these streets.
Around 50 years ago, the Carnation Revolution occurred, often described as a near-bloodless military takeover ending a 42-year-long dictatorship, that had brought the economy to its knees, and led to multiple colonial wars. During this timeframe, it was the elders of the neighborhoods watching and protecting the next generation from harm.
These protectors are immortalized as a permanent exhibit. The exhibit is a collaboration between British photographer Camilla Watson and the elderly residents of Beco das Farinhas and the surrounding area. The exhibit features at least 25 images of the elderly, printed on wood and mounted on the walls. The residents chose the photos that best represented them as individuals.
Lisbon also has a citizen-led project called "Neighbourhood Lives and Memories" that aims to preserve and share the stories of the city's elderly. The project collects materials such as interviews, photographs, journals, and videos, and shares them through weekly workshops.
The elders of our past pave our future. Take time to listen to their stories, their experiences, and learn of their resilience before it's too late.
The beauty of travel.
