Now, the male figure of Salgueiro Maia appears alongside women, in a mural that seeks to praise their role in the Carnation Revolution. The work was created by eight hands and can be seen (and photographed) without cars in front for a limited time.
O Salgueiro Maia mural, one of the generals who led the revolutionary forces on April 25, 1974, which has occupied one of the walls of Avenida de Berna since 2014 has been reinterpreted. Tamara Alves, Sara Fonseca da Graça (Petra Preta), Moami and Mariana Malhão are the artists giving life to the "new" Salgueiro Maia on Avenida de Berna, based on the previous work of Vhils, Miguel Januário, Frederico Draw, Diogo Machado and Gonçalo Ribeiro.
The reinterpretation of the mural takes place on the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which will be celebrated in 2024, and is a project of the gallery Underdogs and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the New University of Lisbon (NOVA FCSH) - which is also a birthday party, with its 45 years old. The previous mural, presented in 2014 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of April 25, was already showing signs of wear and tear, which are natural in any artistic work and more evident in a work that is in public space, at the mercy of all kinds of weather.
The idea of restoring it was even considered, but it was decided to create a new, identical mural. This time, instead of men, it was women who painted the male figure of Salgueiro Maia, filling it with carnations and elements highlighting the role of women.
"To celebrate the 50th anniversary of April 25, four Portuguese women artists were invited to combine their different visual languages to create a single mural. With eight hands, they created together a work about the country's past, present and future", can be read in the work's curatorial text. "The artist Tamara Alves is responsible for the realistic painting of Captain Salgueiro Maia based on the famous black and white photograph taken by Alfredo Cunha, the greatest photographer of April 25. The calm, composed gaze that faced the camera at that moment is now turned towards us."
"The male figure of Salgueiro Maia will forever be the face of the Revolution. But there were many female protagonists who fought and resisted during this period. In order to praise the systematically silenced figure of women in history, the artist Sara Fonseca da Graça represents leading figures in the liberation movements of Portugal's former colonies."says the same text. "The background - but no less important - of the mural is bathed in Moami's vibrant colors, which bring us textures inspired by both Portuguese Filigree and the visual patterns of African cultures. As we know, the Carnation Revolution put an end to Portugal's colonial wars, and Moami celebrates the harmony between these peoples by mixing and merging their visual references. Margarida Malhão is responsible for creating the white silhouettes that appear cut out in the orange background. These anonymous figures represent the strength of a united people. Hand in hand, different layers of Portuguese society fought and celebrated the transition from decades of oppression to freedom. The carnation symbolizes the idea of breaking away, and the raised arms personify collective identity as a transforming force.“
As Sara Fonseca da Graça, who more commonly signs as Petra Preta, recalls, "there is a tendency to focus on the male figure, who dominated the warlike, political and economic scene in Portuguese society, while the figure of the woman still remains anonymous. Women took an active part in the fight for freedom, within their gender role, but also by transgressing society's norms for what was expected of their social role. From working in the fields to keep food on the plate, to caring for war orphans, to taking part in the war, gun in hand".
The new mural was inaugurated this Wednesday, November 8, and promises to remain on the Avenue de Berne for at least 10 years. For now, it can be seen and photographed without any cars in front of it - it won't last long, because the removal of the bike path is underway and, later this month, 70 parking spaces will return to the avenue.
