Creative Currents in Lisbon and Oeiras: Residencies finale
This summer marked a moment for a series of public events in Lisbon, celebrating and sharing the outcomes of the artistic residencies of the Bauhaus of the Seas Sails in both Lisbon and Oeiras. As these residencies came to an end, the city hosted gatherings where art, science, and ecology met—through installations, performances, and shared meals inspired by the River Tagus.
The River’s Tongue
On 8 June 2025 at Casa Jardim da Estrela in Lisbon, the dinner “The River’s Tongue” marked the conclusion of the residency project “Lisbon Spice Rack” by artists Rain Wu, Inês Neto dos Santos, and Mariana Salvador. The project explored the edible wild landscapes along the banks of the River Tagus, focusing on seasonal wild plant species as spices, flavourings, and accompaniments for traditional local dishes.
The dinner presentation invited guests to experience these wild flavours in a convivial setting, blending gastronomy with ecological awareness. Part of the European-funded Bauhaus of the Seas Sails initiative, it was hosted by the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and CAM Gulbenkian, with support from Lisbon City Hall and the Interactive Technologies Institute.
Rain Wu presenting “The River’s Tongue” at Casa Jardim da Estrela in Lisbon
“Lisbon Spice Rack” by artists Rain Wu, Inês Neto dos Santos, and Mariana Salvador
Meeting Points: Art, Science and Ecology
On 26 July, CAM hosted a vibrant edition of its Meeting Points programme, part of the Bauhaus of the Seas Sails project, transforming the day into a celebration where art, science, and ecology met in creative dialogue.
The programme began with a new installation by the collective Fahrenheit 180º – result of their ‘Radical waters – Concrete Matters’ residency. The installation coming out from the project “À flor do Azulejo, a cor do Tejo / From the Tagus to the Tile” has been created out of oyster shells, seaweed, mineral pigment, beeswax, and steel offcuts. The programme continued with talks on sustainable design in their work, and on the intersections between sound and ecological awareness, presented by Francisca Rocha Gonçalves and Nandita Kumar.
Later in the evening, Diana Policarpo and Bernardo Gaeiras staged Rádio Bugio, a live performance of bioacoustic compositions based on field recordings, inviting the audience to actively listen to the rhythms and intelligences of other life forms.
Food was also part of the day’s art–science fusion. ‘Oyster Alchemy’ offered delicacies made from biomaterials featured in the installation—oysters, mussels, and seaweed—while ‘Estuary Mouth’, by chef-biologist Joana Duarte, presented a regenerative, gluten- and lactose-free menu inspired by the estuarine ecosystems of Lisbon and Oeiras.
“À flor do Azulejo, a cor do Tejo / From the Tagus to the Tile” by Fahrenheit 180º
Rádio Bugio – a live performance of bioacoustic compositions by Diana Policarpo and Bernardo Gaeiras
Chef-biologist Joana Duarte presented a regenerative, gluten- and lactose-free menu ‘Estuary Mouth’
