Way through to another side

Teresa Milheiro recreates mediaeval imagery through a mechanized choreography of marionette sculptures.

This jewellery project is based in 16th century Trilogia das Barcas, by Gil Vicente, to stage an imaginary metamorphosis of the journey from life to death.

The exhibition weaves several narratives, as would the theatrical stage it alludes to. One finds 13 characters of the Acts which are an update of the original ones, taking on new forms and moving toward their destinies – changed into animals, personifying the transformation that takes place in the journey to Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Irony and criticism join forces in a performance of the improbable dialogues between form and fiction.

The delicate figures – made in gold, silver and bronze – line-up in the dis- play case, perfectly articulated amongst themselves, suggesting the imperfection of society and its values.

Way through to another side is an artwork about the parallelism of icons of two eras that echo the voice and symbolic power of literature, revisited in the perspective of contemporary creativity.

Devil-angel

It is an androgynous creature, formed of Siamese twins joined at the hip, reminding us that every being has a little of the devil and angel, depending on their formatting when they are born. In the end, everyone makes the choice that most suits them. For good or evil.

Baby

The baby is the purest character. It exists only for itself and does not become any- thing else after it dies, as its innocence is enough for it to fly.
Emperor and the Melanocetus

This character belongs to the untouchables. The Emperor represents weapons of mass destruction and the power of oil, drivers of the economy. Following death, he becomes Melanocetus, a creature from the depths of the sea. A terrifying abyssal fish, which eats any- thing in its path, invokes greed. Black as oil, it has flowing wings of a lightness that contrasts with it extremely inelegant physical form. These are the same wings that make it untouchable and allow it to go to heaven.
Pope and the Opisthoproctus

The Pope represents the church and religious power. He insists on disciplining, gathering and manipulating the faithful to serve the State. The Pope transforms into a mixture of depth hunter and an Opisthoproctus, a fish with tubular eyes point- ing to the sky. This creature also flies, or at least has wings because it is untouchable. The eyes pointing to heaven, as well as alluding to prayer and celestial meditation, also serve not to see what we do not wish to be seen.
Palestinian
In the days of Gil Vicente, the Jews were hated for the economic and financial supremacy that was naturally associated with greed and usury. They had impor- tant professions like tax collecting, pro- voking the envy of others. Followers of their religion, which flew in the face of Christian values and customs, were the greatest pretext for religious hatred. It was believed that Jews had no possible salvation and were lost forever because they did not convert.
Muslim culture today is still seen as incom- prehensible, with a different religion.
Taking the fanaticism of a lesser-known culture in the West to remove its right to self-determination, to being different and to its existence, is easy. This character rep- resents the Muslim and not the terrorist. It embodies the suffering of the people of the Middle East who live in permanent conflict.
In this story, the character does not trans- form because, just like the Jew, he has no soul.
Title : Melga
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, patine, brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 25x25x25cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Silly
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, shibuichi, brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 17×16,5x5cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Procuress
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, patine, brass, alpaca and thread
Dimensions: 18×14,5×4 cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Baby
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : silver, shibuichi and thread
Dimensions: 8×8,5x2cm ( variable )
Photo: Jorge Graça
Title : Devil-Angel
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : gold, silver and thread
Dimensions: 17x18x3cm (variable)
Photo: Ana Verde
Photos: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Fish-urchin
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : oxidized cooper and brass and thread
Dimensions: 8,5x12x8,5cm
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Multibusinessman
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, silver, brass and thread
Dimensions: 17x16x3,5 cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Melanocetus
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 10x14x23cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Emperor
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 16x17x3 cm ( variable) 15cm oil device
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Palestinian
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 16,5x16x3,5cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Opisthoproctus
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : cooper, brass and thread
Dimensions: 17x14x5 cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais
Title : Pope
Serie: Way through to another side
year: 2004/08
Materials : brass, silver and thread
Dimensions: 19x15x3,5 cm ( variable)
Photo: Luis Cunha Pais