When one travels it’s normal to detect little details about a city that, even the locals, haven’t noticed or, at least, didn’t care that much about. It happens to me regularly and, usually, these details become the origin of a travel chronicle or, if more inspired, a poem or a short story.
Lisbon is a city that naturally inspires those who live here but also many foreigners, who come and feel stimulated, creating something new: from literature to music, my hometown has proved to be the breeding ground for many artists.
One of my favorite projects that resulted from a foreigner inspired by Lisbon is called ‘Windows of Lisbon’. Developed by the brazilian illustrator Camilla Coss, these drawings are a collection of portraits inspired by Lisbon locals at their windows.
As simple as that PedroL?? Yeah, it is so elemental that it becomes interesting: in fact, as someone from Lisbon I never thought about this detail, but Camilla noticed and turned this singularity into art. And that´s what I like the most about these ‘Windows of Lisbon’.
According to an interview I read with Camilla, she started to notice people in almost every window: one watching the streets; the other chatting with a neighbor; another one playing with its pet.
One day, Camilla found herself on a bench drawing these persons, their windows, their actions, and the result made her imagine the way people live here and, in the end, understand more about the portuguese and our culture.
Camilla’s ‘Windows’ are now part of Lisbon. When it came out she did some exhibitions and, presently, it’s still possible to find some of her ‘Windows’ as posters in the walls of the town, mainly in the old neighborhoods.
During the confinement (due to the covid crisis), I found one of these lovely posters and remembered the quote: ‘when a door closes, a window opens’. It made me smile and think how, for some time, people from all over the world might have acquired some Lisbon habits.
Lisbon Stories is a collection of chronicles related to my hometown
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Beautifully done, Pedrol!
Particularly the observation of being a stranger in a strange land –
where one’s eyes are somehow more open to details that locals may miss. Well done!
Thanks Nick 🙂 I totally believe in that, in fact it regularly happens to me, notice something that I share with a local and he/she never have noticed before ahah have a great weekend and thanks for commenting 🙂 PedroL
WOW! What a fantastic idea. I loved the art work. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for taking some time to comment, that’s truly appreciated 🙂 all the best, PedroL
A beautiful and fascinating montage of “window folks”. This is such a clever idea as well. Thanks for sharing, and stay safe and well!
Glad you appreciate, I totally love this project and feel truly happy to share it here at my blog 🙂 have a great weekend, PedroL
Excellent post. I love watching the windows in the cities I visit. You get a real glimpse into the local people. On may last trip to Italy and France, I managed a few interesting window photos. It must have been tough during lockdown to only see the world from a window, but it was a glimpse. Stay well PedroL. Allan
Thanks Allan 🙂 there are countries like the Netherlands or Belgium, for example, where I noticed the windows are much bigger compared to the ones in Portugal lol have a good weekend, PedroL
Good idea. Waiting to see what I missed in Lisbon 🙂
eheh even for me, there’s always something new that I learn about my hometown 🙂 thanks for the feedback 🙂 PedroL
Lovely corona art 👍
ahah this project was made before corona but yeah it makes some sense these day… thanks for the comment 🙂 PedroL
Windows and Doors, 2 of my favorite focuses!
ahah glad to know that, hope you appreciated also the writing 🙂 all the best, PedroL
Algo que adoro observar e fotografar quando visito diferentes cidades. Janelas e portas, típicas. As estruturas que compõe uma cidade.
Outro aspecto que também acho interessante são as varandas, e suas composições com as estruturas em ferro que criam padrões fenomenais.
ahah é verdade, ainda hoje fui ao super de manhã e passei junto de uns prédios cujas varandas tinham todas o seu género: numa havia plantas, noutra um gato de loiça, noutra uma mesinha com cadeiras… um fartote 🙂 por acaso gostava de ter um varanda, seria a adaptação do ‘vá para fora cá dentro’ em período de quarentena eheh bom domingo 🙂 PedroL
Windows and doors are the main “signatures” of the city.. Love to check them 🙂 Thanks for sharing this beautiful art, PedroL. Have a great week ahead 😉
Thanks a lot Zara, I’m glad you appreciated the article eheh you too have a lovely week 🙂 PedroL
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It’s a very nice article Pedro, and I loved the art
Thank you so much for the comment 🙂 all the best, PedroL
Lisbon is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! A lots of history, beautiful blue tiles, relaxed atmosphere, good food and amazing beaches and ocean very close!
hey hey 🙂 it was really nice to read your feedback about my hometown 🙂 I’m really happy you have this beautiful image of Lisbon 🙂 hope you can return 🙂 have a great weekend, PedroL
It’s true that as travellers we see things differently than the locals do. What a great idea of Camilla to put this together – Art speaks stories that can’t be written and how each of us interpret art is totally personal. This sketches/art speaks a lot of Portuguese culture of simple pleasures. Thank you for sharing this, Pedrol.
I really love this project and admire this idea 🙂 it’s amazing how someone could notice something so simple yet so local, that was right in front of ‘our’ eyes but noone has ever done it before 🙂 all the best, PedroL