From Tradition to Innovation: The New Paths of Barcelos Figurines

The Pottery Museum once again hosts the Figurines of Barcelos, an ancient art that represents one of the most important traditional crafts of the municipality. This time, the exhibition "From Tradition to Innovation: The New Paths of Barcelos Figurines" brings together works by Carlos Dias, Telmo Macedo, Laurinda "Pias", and Eduardo and Jesus "Pias".

"The Figurine of Barcelos, a prominent mark of the Minho region, is rooted in tradition. In the past, the Barcelos rooster and the works of Rosa Ramalho were, in some ways, disruptive and a breath of fresh air in the national artistic scene. These, along with other factors, made them famous worldwide and are now an integral part of what we call tradition. Thus, tradition and innovation coexist side by side, keeping this art alive. Tradition passes on the knowledge of craftsmanship, from generation to generation, and the themes that guide the hands of the artists in more or less standardized forms and shapes. On the other hand, the boldness and rebellion that each artist infuses into their creations open new worlds and guide a (re)vision of the artworks based on the artists’ idiosyncrasies and the contemporary world, among other aspects. Without undermining dogmas and canons, they do not break with the past, but rather re-signify it with new dimensions, resulting in distinct artistic signatures." In this context, the Pottery Museum presents the exhibition "From Tradition to Innovation", featuring figurines by Carlos Dias, Telmo Macedo, Laurinda "Pias", Eduardo, and Jesus "Pias", where visitors can enjoy the works of these renowned potters from Barcelos.

Just as clay comes from the earth and the figures spring from the artist's hands, the artist, too, is born, flourishes, and matures throughout his life and work. From learning in the family environment, all of them, to some extent, drew from the imagery that fills the Figurines of Barcelos. With this shared background, Carlos Dias, Eduardo "Pias", Jesus "Pias", Laurinda "Pias", and Telmo Macedo decided to create in their own way, offering new perspectives and representations of the Figurines of Barcelos.