The poetry, in the International Poetry Meeting in the South, which runs until Sunday in Olhão, also shows itself through other artistic expressions and even with the fight against demolitions in the Faroread in Hangars.
The event was launched at a ceremony that took place at the Hall of Olhão, which was attended by the poet from Olhão, Fernando Cabrita, mentor of the initiative, a painter and a sculptor, whose work is exhibited within the scope of the festival, and dozens of islanders in protest against the announced takeover of 81 houses in two Culatra housing units.
The quiet and silent presence of anti-demolition activists marked the speeches at the opening ceremony of the event, but did not harm them. On the contrary. For Fernando Cabrita, everyone who was in the room “went there because of the poetry, even those who don't know it”, since, throughout history, “where there are struggles, there are also poets”. "Poetry is always at the forefront of struggles, side by side with social struggles," he considered.
«This year, Poesia a Sul, unfortunately, is also a struggle. And this confirms what is often said: if poetry is not linked to reality, society and the world, it is perfectly useless» said Fernando Cabrita to Sul Informação.
One way to make this artistic expression even more useful is to take it to the places where people are, but also to show that it can be found in many places. The sculptor Alberto Germán even confessed that “without poetry and without music, my art would not be the same”.
The second edition of Poesia a Sul had a substantial growth compared to the 2015 edition, largely due to the support of the cultural program «365 Algarve».
“This program covers a good part of the event's costs. This gives us greater responsibility in its execution and the obligation to invest more in Poesia a Sul, next year, if Algarve 365 is repeated», said the mayor of Olhão António Pina. Even without this extra funding, the event is already guaranteed a 3rd edition, in keeping with the mayor's words.
Especially because this is, above all, an affirmation of Olhão as a land of culture. “In Olhão there are also people who think and who do culture. There is intellectuality in our city», considered the mayor. Poetry in the South seeks to make it known by everyone.
The big news for the 2016 edition is the introduction of other artistic expressions, from music to performing arts, passing through the visual arts. The international dimension is also new, as guests from Vietnam, Morocco, Chile, Spain, Brazil, France and, of course, Portugal will be present at the event.
Basically, the 10 days that Poesia a Sul lasts are an opportunity for exchange and sharing for the poets and artists who participate in it, through lectures, debates, round tables, book presentations, readings, tributes, exhibitions, various shows and moments of conviviality. «This is a moment of exchange of literary experiences, but also of values and ethics among the participants», summarized Fernando Cabrita.
This opportunity is extended to all interested parties, as the different initiatives are open to the participation of the general public. That's why the people from Olho and those who visit the county have been coming across poetry for almost a week and will continue to do so for the next three days.
Since last Friday, the day when an exhibition with works by the Olhão plastic artist Joana Rosa Bragança and the Spanish sculptor Alberto Germán was inaugurated at the Municipal Auditorium of Olhão, initiatives have been taking place in various parts of the city of Olhão. And if there are more obvious places to show poetry and other arts, such as the auditorium, the museum or the Municipal Library, there are unexpected ones, such as restaurants and bars.
Until the 30th of October, Sunday, this literary expression will continue to dominate in different places in Olhão. And there will also be no lack of poetry, or at least poetic feelings, in the Farole in Hangares, taking into account the victory achieved this week by the islanders in their fight against demolitions. In the end, the takeover of the houses, originally scheduled for yesterday, was postponed and the threat of demolition currently only hangs on 62 houses.
See photos from the exhibition by Joana Rosa Bragança and Alberto Germán at the Olhão Auditorium, which can be visited until Sunday:
Photos: Hugo Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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