Street Art Whales

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Art Gallery

District: Açores > Horta > Horta > Matriz

Location

The presence of this art is spread across the walls of Horta port. The area is located in the Matriz zone, which corresponds to the urban heart of the city and its marina. Being by the sea, surrounded by docked boats, gives a genuinely maritime atmosphere to the place where the paintings can be observed.

Sailors' Tradition

The paintings and drawings on the port walls are the result of a decades-old tradition. Sailors making the Atlantic crossing bound for Horta leave their mark on the quay, a kind of signature or memory of their passage. It is a symbolic practice that reinforces the connection between sailors and this Azorean port.

The Marine Theme

Among the vast collection of drawings and messages left by sailors, representations of whales and other sea-related elements are particularly common. This theme reflects the historical and current importance of Faial's and the Azores' connection to the ocean, including cetacean observation. The paintings vary in style and size, forming a spontaneous panel that celebrates maritime life and voyages.

A Port's Testimony

More than simple urban art, these paintings are a living testimony to the history and dynamism of Horta port. Each image tells a story or represents a crew, creating a visual record of the countless people and vessels that have chosen Horta as a stopping point on their transatlantic routes. The collection constantly evolves with the arrival of new travelers.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt