Vista Alegre (Portugal) invited me -for a residence, in the company of 3 other artists- to visit, observe and record (drawing and painting) on site. For a taste of the history and vision behind the brand ‘Vista Alegre’ and in order to give my artistic vision on this place. What immediately struck me was the scale of the heritage: a chapel, a historic factory with kilns, archives & a museum, several shops (Bordallo Pinheiro), a theater and a hotel, surrounded by streets of employees' houses.
Watching over the red, terracotta tiled roofs were pairs of storks, who came to spend the winter in Portugal and seemed to be in full 'Spring mood’, despite the sometimes fierce rainy weather. I will now forever associate the clapping sound of the storks with this place. It reminded me of the historic Vista Alegre emblem with the Emu. Emus and Storks have something in common, they are both oversized birds, they could be nephews. Like echoes, uniting different parts of the world. I used this duo as ambassadors in some of my more illustrative work for Vista Alegre. Series of landscapes also emerged, where garden (nature) and architecture collide in natural or artificial, day and night light.
The museum collection was a great source of inspiration & knowledge. The spirit of certain ages shone through the pieces, indirectly reflecting historic facts or playful, laconic criticism of prevailing politics.
A selection of Prints are in the collection of this museum.
This residence resulted in a series of 50 watercolor paintings and drawings for a lush & luxurious publication.