“Boats with History”, by João das Neves, is the exhibition of naval modeling on display in the public space of EMARP's Customer Service, in Portimão, until the next 8th of February.
João das Neves, the fifth of ten children of a land master and trawler master, was born on March 25, 1949 on S. Roque beach, the true name of the western part of Meia-Praia, in Lagos.
He learned to swim at the age of 6, even before learning to read and write. At the age of 11, his father taught him to make knots and mend hammocks during school holidays. But at night, he would hide in the fishing boats, his great passion.
He studied at the local Technical School, but the day after his 14th birthday, he obtained a maritime certificate. And, the next day, João das Neves boarded a trawler as a “young man”, equivalent to the intern of today. Over 37 years in fishing, he obtained letters from farms, master of nets and master of fishing.
His life was spent on ships and boats, in various types of fishing and, later, in maritime-tourism activity. He has a huge passion for the sea, which he says he drank mixed with breast milk.
He is a specialist in boats, nets and fishing gear of all kinds. And, with age, it gave shape to an art that lived in itself, from an early age: making miniature boats. It can be said that João das Neves could not live three days without being attached to his boats, in various stages of construction.
he boats on display represent different periods and regions of Portugal and are rigorously made to scale, in German pine wood and solid white cork agglomerate. Candles are cut and sewn by hand. Pure craftsman, uses only knives, small saws, rasps, files, mending needles. Nor does he use a drill, making the holes with red-hot wires.
With the sea inside him, João das Neves currently lives between Barão de S. Miguel and Barão de S. João. It is worth visiting this exhibition and «feeling» the passion and knowledge that passed from the artist to his wonderful works.
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