ENTRE DOIS MUNDOS

-Mulher e homem , cúmplices do oceano …-

From Story to History 

Alexandre Nobre Pais

Director of the National Azulejo Museum of Lisbon

The sea and those who derive their livelihood from it are central aspects of the Ovar region, so it's no surprise that this theme has found resonance in the work being developed in tile art by Bastien Tomasini, a.k.a. The Gringo. The proposal of this young artist to employ photography printed on tiles constitutes a different approach from what we are accustomed to, but it fits into this art form, which has been around for over five centuries, incorporating some aspects characteristic of contemporary languages. The use of photography, the use of computerized image programs to create compositions, printing—all these are techniques that have been altering the way we perceive Art in recent decades. In the case of his works, an interesting paradox arises. The application of tiles in architectural space, which is indeed their primary purpose, creates the idea that these coverings constitute a kind of skin or tattoo on the buildings where they are placed. In the works developed by The Gringo, tile patterns emerge on the skin of his models, evoking tattoos that reverberate this idea, demonstrating that the beauty of these motifs can also find a place on bodies, which themselves compose a narrative. Among the new artists currently working on tile art and proposing different paths based on previous experiences, The Gringo is the one who comes closest to the narrative conception of the Baroque period. It is in the late 17th century, but with greater strength in the first half of the 18th century, that we witness tile art gaining a descriptive dimension. This can reach levels of great iconological complexity, but basically consists of a succession of scenes that compose part of a story, implying a more participatory dimension on the part of the observer, requiring interactivity in understanding and comprehending the pictorial message represented. The Gringo employs this concept, adapting each of his compositions to a story and sometimes associating them with musical sounds rooted in Fado. These are narratives about love, which the sea unites but also separates, and about people who depend on it, dimensions that find in Ovar a privileged place to be told and remembered. In this exhibition, The Gringo's pieces present a dimension that transcends figuration. In them, the artist projects splashes, a reference to Jackson Pollock, but which create, over the immaculate figurative representation, a more dynamic and vital dimension of street art, which is ultimately its aesthetic origin. Through this movement, we feel that beneath the placid surface of beautiful faces, bodies, and hands, emotions and tensions stir, pulsating and driving the actions of those portrayed. This interference in the images makes the artist present; we feel his restlessness, his disquiet, a startle that forces us to look more closely at the representation and see beyond the undeniable beauty of the images. As the proverb goes, "still waters run deep," and on the surface of the bodies, where reflections of tile art from the region are mirrored, depicting the daily lives of people connected to the sea, there is a search, a quest for a path, the finding of "a north" that the compass rose punctuates, an eye that seeks the boat that allows departure or even return... And as always, in the narratives that The Gringo constructs, it is the Woman who plays the main role, she is the protagonist from whom the story unfolds. No panel expresses better what is at stake here than the one where the "ovarina" emerges in shadow, the woman from Ovar whose life is linked to the sea and gave rise to the adjective "varina." Those whose lives are entangled in constant toil and love for their parents, siblings, children, and beloved ones who always leave and not always return. Those who consolidate the family in absences and share it in presences, always entwined in an existence that imprisons them but which the sea does not bend, rather strengthens in routine and pain. What The Gringo's vision gives us is archetypal beauty, that which exists beyond what the sea, salt, sand, wind, and sun wear down and corrode. The characterful beauty of those who face the elements, adversity, and grow old while still young. Their stories gain here, in these tile panels, not the logic of a document, but a sense of epic that restores to them the heroic dimension, the greatness of those remembered by History, who always appear in our imagination, young and beautiful, undaunted by adversity and setbacks, just as The Gringo portrays and immortalizes them.

Hands are the embodiment of the strength of tenderness. The boat, born in the heart of the sea, displays all the strength of the fishermen in the Portuguese waters. Every movement, every gesture, bears witness to these men's daily struggle against the wild elements. Their rough hands tell stories of hard work, of sacrifices made to feed their families and their community. In every grip of the net, in every rise of the sea, the essence of their indomitable character and their intimate connection with the surrounding ocean is evident.

Facing the sea, she watches her husband's boat drift away into the distance. Her husband is a fisherman, who has set out to sea for his daily catch. A melancholy fills her heart as she gazes at the horizon, thinking of him and the dangers he faces. Despite the sadness, she holds onto hope, praying for her husband's safe return to solid ground soon. Every wave that caresses the shore is like a whisper of comfort, reminding her that, even separated by vast stretches of water, their love remains strong and unwavering.

The fisherman stands there, with his hands raised to the sky, holding his fishing net close to his heart. He is guided by an inner compass, showing him the way to not get lost in the seas of Portugal. His strength is balanced by his tenderness, forming a perfect harmony. His heart is as vast as the ocean itself, full of compassion and determination.

Facing the sea, she watches her husband's boat drift away into the distance. Her husband is a fisherman, who has set out to sea for his daily catch. A melancholy fills her heart as she gazes at the horizon, thinking of him and the dangers he faces. Despite the sadness, she holds onto hope, praying for her husband's safe return to solid ground soon. Every wave that caresses the shore is like a whisper of comfort, reminding her that, even separated by vast stretches of water, their love remains strong and unwavering.

The fisherman hoists his net as a well-deserved reward. He sails the seas of Portugal, challenging the elements, heir to a long lineage of sailors. He embodies resilience and determination. His strength is unwavering, his courage tireless. His soul is as clear as the deep waters that surround him. His duty is simple yet noble: to provide food for his community, for those who depend on him to survive. Every day, he faces the vastness of the ocean with unwavering faith, knowing that his work is essential for the well-being of all.

She stands there before us, hands tightly clasped, shining with hope for the return of her husband, a fisherman who set sail across the seas of Portugal. Her faith is unwavering, her love eternal. She prays fervently, each breath imbued with the fervent desire to see him return safe and sound. Every wave breaking on the shore is like a caress from the ocean, carrying her prayers across distant horizons. In her eyes, the light of hope shines, illuminating the darkness of her wait with captivating intensity. Her love, like a beacon in the night, guides her heart toward a horizon where her love may finally reunite, in the warm and reassuring arms of her beloved returned from the sea.

In the heart of Portugal rises Varina, an emblematic figure of strength and character. Her name echoes in conversations as a symbol of determination and daring. Her shadow, like a silhouette carved by the hands of time, is cast upon the cobblestones, leaving an indelible mark on the memories and hearts of those who cross her path.

The fisherman places a crown on his wife's head. This crown is woven from a fishing net, a symbol of the strength and gentleness of the sea, the ocean, and the wind. Their love is as eternal as the depths of the ocean itself, as vast as the endless horizon. Each knot of the net represents an indestructible bond between them, each mesh a promise of unity and mutual support. In this simple gesture, they celebrate not only their connection to the sea and its mysteries but also their commitment to each other, ready to face life's storms together, united in their unwavering love.

Two hands courageously rise to the sky, firmly holding an intertwined fishing net. They belong to two fishermen, a man and a woman, proud of their identity. Their hearts are brave and fearless, challenging.

She finds herself entwined with his heart, in the arms of a man she loves, a fisherman. She doesn't want to let him go to sea. 

Here stands a fisherman, his back turned, with a net etched into his skin. A Portuguese fishing boat sails away. The journey is tough, but his heart is generous, as he does it to feed his own. Each wave represents a challenge, each catch is a victory for his family and community.

Two hands intertwine, touching each other with tenderness, strength, and respect. It's the delicate hand of a woman and the calloused hand of a fisherman, marked by the hard work of the sea and the land. Every line, every callus tells a story of courage and determination, weaving an unbreakable bond between these two souls shaped by the elements.