‘The Miracle of the Sardine – Memories and Mysteries of a National Icon’ is the theme of an exhibition aiming to “understand how the sardine, fragile and precious, serves as a muse for art, the sea, and industry,” as detailed by the Padrão dos Descobrimentos website.
The organizers have embarked on this journey by pondering the questions, “How did the sardine become a symbol of Portugal and specifically of the city of Lisbon?” and “What events, knowledge, and industries contributed to this phenomenon?”
“It is also a political object, especially when scarcity crises disrupt urban supply or the canned industry, in which it holds a global leadership position. Yet, the sardine is a common good, particularly for maritime communities, for whom it represents roughly half of the fishing value,” they elaborate.
This exhibition, running until December 30, will unveil “the multiple lives of the sardine from antiquity to the present, both real and imagined, embraced by popular and scholarly culture, not forgetting advertising, which has skillfully exploited all its qualities,” the Padrão dos Descobrimentos adds. The exhibition is organized in collaboration with Lisbon Culture – Cultural Equipment and Animation Management Company (EGEAC).
The Padrão dos Descobrimentos will also host parallel activities aimed at families, such as the project ‘The Sardine Among Sharks,’ which involves the reading of a story emphasizing the importance of individual uniqueness and collective strength on June 1. Additionally, the ‘There Are Many Sardines!’ initiative invites parents and children to imagine and create a sardine advertising poster from different types of drawings on June 29.
