JONATHAS DE ANDRADE’S EXPLORATION ON HUMANS AND PIGEONS

As a result of an artistic residency commissioned by Batalha, this project involved research and dialogue with associations and groups in the city, including the Associação Columbófila do Distrito do Porto (Pigeon Racing Association of Porto).

The exhibition features two new films by the artist, who represented Brazil at the Venice Biennale: Columbófilos, the first film developed by Jonathas de Andrade outside Brazil, which explores the particular relationship between humans and pigeons, showing pigeon fanciers and pigeons before the apotheotic moment of their release; and Estação Rádio Bouça, which follows two leaders of the Associação de Moradores da Bouça who run a local amateur radio station. In a fictitious studio, we witness a conversation between the two broadcasters about the history of this community and its struggle for better housing conditions, illustrated by the association’s rich visual archive.