A piece that aims to «make visible all year round what is the biggest celebration and the greatest moment of the São Brasense soul», for the locals, but also for those who are unable to visit this village on Easter Sunday, when the Alleluia procession go out into the street. These were the main objectives of the creation of the Monument to Alleluia, the first phase of which was unveiled last Sunday, January 21st.
Now, anyone passing by at the beginning of the southern section of Avenida da Liberdade will come across an image that represents much of the history of this people.
«In the municipality of São Brás de Alportel, we have enjoyed pampering our memories for a long time. We believe that it is essential that we respect our past if we want to build a more harmonious future with the community», he explained to Sul Informação Marlene Guerreiro, vice-president of the municipality, reinforcing that this monument will also “stimulate attractiveness and tourism”.
The monument will consist of three pieces, the first of which was inaugurated this Sunday, in bronze, which illustrates, in life size, the figure of the man are-brasense who participates in the Alleluia Procession, with the flowery torch in his hand.
The second element will be made known at Easter this year and will represent the son. Finally, at Easter 2025, the grandson will be revealed.
There are three ages that symbolize “the passing from generation to generation” of this festival which, in addition to the procession, is known for the streets covered in flowers, the quilts on the windows and the men holding bright bouquets of flowers, the flower-filled torches.
«When the City Council promoted the rehabilitation of this section of Avenida da Liberdade, in continuity with the rehabilitation of Largo de São Sebastião, it took care to place on the sidewalk that is here on the upward right side a replica of the flowery carpet from the Aleluia procession» , highlighted Marlene Guerreiro.
As it is a monument that aims to represent the population, the Municipality decided to invite a local artist to create the pieces.
Manuel Belchior is, in the words of Marlene Guerreiro, «a self-taught person, passionate about art, who was an emigrant for many years in Germany and who is now in São Brás full time. It was he who began to conceive this idea, who made the first molds and who prepared everything that followed».
«Afterwards, to complete the work, we thought it would be good to invite another artist, in this case from the Algarve, Teresa Paulino. She was born in Lisbon, but has lived in the Algarve for many years and has done very interesting works throughout the Algarve, one of the best known being the one in Rotunda do Aeroporto», explained Marlene Guerreiro.
For Teresa Paulino, it was “a challenge” and “very rewarding” to carry out this work with a local person. «It's a tradition of theirs and that's why I really enjoyed participating. Mr. Manuel was giving me some tips, he said that the bottle had to be present, he gave me photographs and that was how the partnership began», the artist explained to Sul Informação.
For Vitor Guerreiro, mayor of São Brás, who has experienced this procession since he was little, the unveiling of this monument is “a debt that I consider we are paying to the community, because this work must exist, immortalizing Easter Sunday forever and making him present every day of the year».
In the presence of André Gomes, the mayor also highlighted that «in addition to the symbolic value, Easter Sunday and Alleluia are an important landmark in tourism in São Brás de Alportel, because it attracts thousands of visitors at a time when we have fewer tourists».
The president of the Algarve Tourism Region also highlighted the importance of this festival as «an addition to the regional tourist offer».
«The link between tourism and religion is also evident. The tourist offer in the Algarve goes far beyond the consolidated sun and beach, religious tourism also plays a very important role and, therefore, this project testifies to São Brás de Alportel's commitment to enhancing its traditions and values» , concluded André Gomes.
The inauguration ended with the traditional song that echoes in the streets of São Brás de Alportel during the Alleluia Procession.
Manuel Belchior He is from São Brás de Alportel. It was at a very young age that he came into contact with art at the Tomás Cabreira School, in Faro, where he completed his industrial course.
He attended the Paço de Arcos Military School, in Lisbon, for three years.
He worked for around 40 years in electronic engineering laboratories in Germany, having been the author of some innovations in this area.
In parallel, he has been exhibiting his works since 1960, both in Germany and Portugal, and is part of the “Prisma” group, dedicated to painting and sculpture.
Some of his works are found in private collections in France, the United States of America, England and Portugal.
His piece “Algarvio” is installed at the Dr. Estanco Louro Municipal Library, in São Brás de Alportel.
One of his paintings is on display at the City Hall and recently served as a model for the creation of a ceramic piece.
In 1994, he began the project “The Walls Flourish”, with around 50 murals measuring 6 meters by 3, produced in acrylic in one of the largest factories in Europe.
Permanently exhibits at the “Die Goldschmiede” Gallery, in Munich, Germany.
His work reveals his tendency towards impressionism as well as his preference for working with materials such as metal, wood, cement and copper, the latter with his own technique).
Teresa Paulino was born in Lisbon in 1970 and currently lives in the Algarve.
He studied in Lisbon at the António Arroio School of Arts, completed his degree at the University of Algarve and completed his degree in Lisbon, at the Escola Superior de Artes e Tecnologia.
Won the idea project for the airport roundabout Faro and, from there, he began his journey in sculpture, with the well-known work 'The Observators'.
The sculptor's works have been gaining ground in several municipalities in the Algarve, where it is possible to see the Figures of the “Fisherman”, the “Tax Guard” and the “Smuggler”, in Alcoutim; “Man with Child”, in Lagos; the “Fishermen's Rotunda”, in Quarteira; the “Market Seller”, in bronze, installed at the foot of the Loulé Municipal Market, and the “Homage to tourists”, installed in Albufeira.
In addition to sculptures in stone, bronze and, lately, fiberglass, he also works in the areas of painting, design, illustration, photography and animation.
He usually works to order, holds exhibitions and participates in competitions promoted by entities.
Photos: Mariana Sedge | Sul Informação
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