Promoting interculturalism through art education : a case study Portugal and Latvia

This study examines art student’s awareness, understanding and practices of intercultural art education in higher institution of art. Specifically, the research focused on Art Academy of Latvia, Riga. The purpose was to promote “interculturalism’’ among students and to acquaint them with the knowledge and skills of developing and reflecting on their cultural values and that of others’. For 10 weeks, 7 students in the Art Academy of Latvia explored the Traditional African Ceramics. My research included data gathered from student questionnaires, class discussions, interviews, observations, student artwork and photographs from their personal activities. I likewise took note of the students’ practical works and their approach to African-based ceramics. First, in literature review, I discuss my purpose of study, why the study is important, limitations, statements of problem, and further research. Secondly, I examine culture and paradigms of cultures, comprehensive context of the African history and traditions of the African ceramics, the importance of intercultural art education. Then, I describe how the case study in Latvia was carried out among 7 participants’ who are students from 2nd year – masters’ level. The case study involved 7 students from the department of graphics, glass, ceramics and painting with the aim of promoting intercultural learning among art students. The case study reveals participants’ attitude towards intercultural education and reveal the importance of intercultural education in higher institutions of art as well as other institutions of learning. Although the participants were positive attitude towards other culture, the study reveals that creating awareness through intercultural art and exposing students to other culture enhances their creativity ability to explore other culture and they are more likely to be opened in sharing their experiences and their cultural perspective. Experiencing culture based- art create awareness of other cultures

Vox Dei:metáfora(s) da espiritualidade

Tese de doutoramento, Belas-Artes (Pintura), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Belas-Artes, 2014

Escultura, arqueologia e museus transfigurações e mediações contemporâneas

Tese de doutoramento, Belas-Artes (Escultura), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Belas-Artes, 2014

Olhares street art - investigação ação : de que forma abordagens de arte contemporânea nas escolas promovem a criatividade

In this study we intend to address a learning experience that was inspired by the intersection between public art and art education. We intend to make a reflection and analysis of pedagogical actions undertaken during this experience related to a theoretical framework to help us evaluate and improve the pedagogical and methodological strategies. The experience began with a visit to the exhibition "Street Art" at the AXA building in Porto. This visit was made with a group of children of different ages, accompanied by their parents, in May 2014. This exhibition brought new gazes for urban art. By recognizing obvious benefits such as proximity and accessibility, urban art, so rarely addressed in the classroom, may be an educational resource. Our intention in this study asks whether the contact with urban works of art can be motivating for students and facilitators of learning. We used a methodology of action research to approach urban art in visual art education lessons, exploring various art objects of the exhibition "Street Art" and the surrounding city with students. The study findings pointed out a positive response to initial questions

O imaginário das ilhas atlânticas no universo medieval islâmico-cristão

O pensamento cultural medieval aparece-nos como herdeiro da Antiguidade Clássica, da sua filosofia, ciência, arte e mitos. Todos estes conceitos traduzem-se com facilidade para as elites intelectuais cristãs e muçulmanas, que os conservam e integram em elementos da sua própria cultura. A ideia do mar, em especial o mar dito ‘aberto’ como o Oceano Atlântico, é marcada pelo maravilhoso. Em plena Idade Média o Oceano Atlântico surge como território de Caos, envolto em mistério. O Oceano Atlântico é local das mais variadas manifestações do fantástico. Desta forma, as ilhas atlânticas, contidas neste vasto oceano, são elas próprias impregnadas de um carácter maravilhoso. Tentaremos, ao longo desta dissertação de mestrado, abordar a questão das ilhas atlânticas e das suas características a nível de imaginário. Este exercício será feito, sempre que possível, fazendo o cruzamento de fontes de origem islâmica e de origem cristã. Desta maneira, surgirá uma imagem comum em relação ao imaginário do Oceano Atlântico e, em especial, das ilhas neste contidas. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é verdadeiramente demonstrar pontos de aproximação entre relatos e mapas, de origem cristã e islâmica, ligados a ilhas fantásticas e, ao mesmo tempo, reais. Veremos que as duas categorias, do real e do imaginário, sobrepõem-se diversas vezes, sendo que não se conseguem muitas vezes distinguir a nível das fontes. Desta forma, relatos de navegações atlânticas como a de São Brandão (de origem celto-cristã) ou a dos Aventureiros de Lisboa (originária no al-Andalus,) são reveladoras das atitudes e ideias na Idade Média em relação ao Atlântico e às suas ilhas.