The exhibition is a result of the anthropological research project ReSpell, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology and developed at the Network Center for Research in Anthropology. Conducted between 2023 and 2025, the study explored the intersections between religion, spirituality, and well-being in southern Europe.
The photographs displayed in the Sala das Beiras of the museum provide a sensory journey into this universe, capturing everyday experiences shaped by recent social, economic, and political challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted by the museum’s statement.
The exhibition offers the public a visual pathway that “reveals contemporary practices of faith, rituals, and spiritual creativity, demonstrating how these gestures resonate within communities and contribute to moments of healing and transformation.”
Amidst “clear echoes and subtle murmurs,” the images depict how religiosity emerges as a response to structural crises and as a space for resistance, sharing, and the pursuit of well-being by communities.
The photographic collection builds a transreligious narrative about the therapeutic potential of spiritual practices in daily life, highlighting the coexistence of traditions, hybrid practices, transnational flows, and emerging therapeutic approaches.
Each photograph serves as a visual echo of the religio-spiritual creativity observed during fieldwork in Portugal, Spain, and Greece.
“Healing Echoes: Religion, Spirituality, Well-Being” will open on November 29 and will be accompanied by a guided tour at 3:00 PM, remaining on display until December 12.
