The Defence of Nature blossoms in northern Portugal

To think of natural spaces as spaces for creation and artistic experience is the main purpose of The Defence of Nature. A project developed by BoCA – Biennial of Contemporary Arts since 2021, it brings together local communities and artists, calling on them to contribute to a forest of works of art. After stretching its roots to Faro, Almada and Lisbon, in 2024 it returned to the capital and reached the north of Portugal, in partnership with the municipalities of Braga and Penafiel.

Birch trees, oak trees, laurel trees, stone pines, chestnut trees, arbutus trees and cork oaks enriched the flora of the Shadow Island on Encosta das Lages, in Penafiel. The initiative, which brought together 30 participants, took place at the new culture and creativity centre, Ponto C, on 16 November. The following week, on the 22nd and 23rd, in Braga, a group of 100 students and other citizens turned up to plant 300 trees and shrubs in what was already the largest urban park of native forest in the country, Monte Picoto.

Earlier this year, on 23 March, BoCA had returned to Vale de Chelas to celebrate the arrival of spring, in partnership with Lisbon City Council, planting a total of 450 oaks, strawberry trees and rosemary. We had already been there in 2021, at an inaugural planting, and in 2022, when 122 participants rolled up their sleeves in front of 580 specimens (including cork oaks, holm oaks, almond trees, carob trees and wild pear trees).

Inspired by the legacy of 7,000 oak trees by Joseph Beuys (1921-86), a key figure in ecological art, who also argued that ‘we can all be artists’, BoCA began to create a project planting trees as citizenship exercises in different parts of the country. Inclusive and participatory, it initially invites all citizens – regardless of age or gardening skills – to plant a tree and give it a title. What follows is a call for artists and curators for performances, events, debates or conferences; combining artistic programming with the creation of natural spaces.

As far as artistic intervention is concerned, BoCA invited Delfim Sardo and Sílvia Gomes to curate Quero Ver a Minha Montanha, a cycle of performances in natural spaces. Gustavo Sumpta presented his Denomination of Controlled Origin, Gustavo Ciríaco took us on the Carousel, Musa paradisiaca created a Monument for Amateurs – Solar Boat, Diana Policarpo showed the way on Green Walks, Berru contributed with Fluid Matter, Dayana Lucas showed that it’s possible to fall upwards and Sara Bichão took a block of ice, which was melting along the way, across the Tagus in a rowing boat, between Belém and Trafaria.

Initiatives that, over a ten-year horizon, will translate into plantations of creations – natural and artistic – with an impact on various levels: social, cultural and environmental. And the mission to defend the nature around us through citizen, educational and artistic activism.