2026.8
Residency at Buinho FabLab, Messejana, Portugal
In my application, I wrote that what attracted me to this place is the name of Messejana. It comes from the Arabic word masjana, which means prison.
During my three weeks in Messejana I had two projects; you'll need to find them on this page.
During my three weeks in Messejana I had two projects; you'll need to find them on this page.
This area (in southern Portugal) was ruled by the Moors around the 800s -1200s. That's why I find the chimneys different - a lot of them are round, resembling the shape of minarets.
Sometimes there are weather vanes on the chimneys, a rooster family, a lost bird, or dried fish.
The annual Festival of Santa Maria lasts three days. The statue of Santa Maria was paraded from one church to another, as well as before the bull fighting. Local bands and choirs perform in the plaza while people eat a lot of roasted pork. There is also group dancing, where both young and old don't sleep. The town was lit (literally).
Messejana is also on the Camino (central southern Portuguese Way). Not surprisingly, two years ago I walked the last 100 km of the northern coastal route.
So all of these above guided me to this idea... of becoming a chimney and performing the Three Miracles of Santa Wendia.
So all of these above guided me to this idea... of becoming a chimney and performing the Three Miracles of Santa Wendia.
The First Miracle of Santa Wendia is that smoke comes out of the chimney, which is what a chimney is good at doing.
The Second Miracle of Santa Wendia is my rendition of the song "Ben guarda Santa Maria". It is the 257th song from the 13th-century Cantigas de Santa Maria, a collection of more than 400 songs about Santa Maria. This one tells the miracle about relics - when King Alfonso came back after 10 years, he found that the relics of Santa Maria were intact.
The two videos below are the first and the fourth stanzas from the five. In the latter, I asked people to clap a faster rhythm for me. And apparently, when I started to run, the voice sounded more... blessed by Santa Maria.
The two videos below are the first and the fourth stanzas from the five. In the latter, I asked people to clap a faster rhythm for me. And apparently, when I started to run, the voice sounded more... blessed by Santa Maria.
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The Third Miracle of Santa Wendia is that blue swallows fly out of the chimney and into people's hands and hearts. Apparently swallows have an auspicious meaning in Portuguese culture. In Messejana, a lot of ceramic swallows hang on the walls in front of households. And there were many real swallows and swallow nests on the streets as well.
And there is, of course, the Fourth Miracle, which is to have the company of people from around the world who gathered here by fate, who were willing to spend this time with me, see the sunset together, and keep on passing the blessings from each other.
As for how I got the idea of the character for the weather vane...
And more process photos:
As a tour guide who is sort of famous on my website, I also led a guided tour in Messejana. This time the route is pointed by the wind (video below).
Upon this return to Portugal, it is interesting to think that the idea of doing a guided tour germinated during my first residency in Portugal four years ago. Between that one and this one, I have done tours in seven countries so far. I surely have changed. One thing (that I don't really like) is that tours became my "spiel" and I do tours intentionally. I think the most precious thing about these tours is the purposelessness - the spontaneity, the energy flow among the participants, the philosophical dialogues, and the endless surprises in every corner.
May we wonder at life in every corner.
May we wonder at life in every corner.