GAU: Con O´Brien at Calçada da Glória panels

278

Con O´Brien at Calçada da Glória panels

Irish artist Con O'Brien was in Lisbon and made his mark on the Calçada da Glória Painting Panels, under GAU management.

His work represents a reflection on the historical relationship between Portugal and Ireland, as well as the relationships established between different cultures, places and travelers.

In the words of the artist:

"This project is a reflection on the historical and cultural links between Portugal and Ireland, while also inviting viewers to think of the future and where their roads may lead them. We chose the old Irish phrase "Bíonn siulach scéalach" for the piece and, as with many old Irish sayings, there is no direct translation to English. It roughly translates as "Travellers have tales to tell" and in Portuguese it would be "Viajantes tém estórias".

Lisboa is a melting pot of cultures, characters, visitors, locals and travellers all with their own stories to tell. The phrase has personal meaning for us as a collective and as a group of friends. We have all travelled here from all corners of the world and we have bonded, laughed and learned from so many of each others stories and continue to do so.

The three symbols incorporated in the piece are the triskel, swan and sailboat.

The Triskel is an ancient Celtic Symbol signifying the many cyclical triplicities within Celtic beliefs including life, death, and rebirth. We chose this symbol to reflect on the Celtic links that Ireland and Portugal share.

Ireland and Portugal don't only share cultural and historical ties, but also geographical. Both countries lie on the edge of "The known world" with the great mysterious Atlantic ocean crashing on our shores. The sailboat represents both our countries histories of voyages, fishing and trade links. The boat also represents a journey and the possibilities for future travels and cultural 'trades' between our countries.

And finally, The Swan. The Swan represents the Flight of The Earls and the O'Neil family. The Flight of The Earls is an important event in Irish history where Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone set sail from Lough Swilly and fled Ireland. To this day the O'Neil family remains present in Portugal. We have even met a brother and sister Pedro & Sara O'Neil on our travels here. The swan represents the 'flight' and travels from the lake in Ireland to new lands in Portugal, for a new start."