Baron S. Joao Dolls

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Art Gallery

District: Faro > Lagos > Barão de São João > Bensafrim e Barão de São João

Location:

The Barão S. João Dolls are scattered along the road connecting Bensafrim to the village of Barão de São João, in the municipality of Lagos. Set on a gentle slope, they are surrounded by pine forests and cork oaks, providing a tranquil natural setting.

This sequence of sculptures punctuates the rural route, offering visual breaks between cycling paths and trails along the hill, without disturbing the countryside environment.

Origin and history:

Created in the early 2000s by artist Mauro Deodato, the figures are carved directly from local limestone. Each piece emerged from careful manual intervention, which sought to preserve the stone's inherent textures and irregularities.

The project resulted from a community commission, aiming to enhance the territory through contemporary art, creating a symbolic link between the region's agricultural tradition and modern artistic expression.

Artistic appreciation:

Each sculpture features stylized anthropomorphic forms, where arms and faces appear in a simplified manner. The interpretation of the figures varies according to the observer's position and the daylight, lending them an almost theatrical quality.

The use of local material emphasizes the continuity between artwork and landscape, while the sculpted lines invite a sensory, almost tactile interaction with the stone's edges and cavities.

Natural environment:

The pine forest and cork oak groves envelop the figures, creating patterns of light and shadow throughout the day. In autumn, the carpet of dry leaves contrasts with the stone's light color, reinforcing the sculptural presence in the terrain.

This setting invites a short walk, allowing visitors to appreciate not only the artworks but also the native flora and the rural silence that characterizes the Barão de São João area.

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