Portugal launches art exhibition to mark 50th anniversary of its Constitution

On 23 July, the Portuguese Parliament and the Comissão Comemorativa 50 Anos 25 de Abril inaugurated the exhibition “A Palavra é o Lugar: A Constituição da(s) Comunidade(s)”. Curated by Filipa Oliveira, Francisca Listopad and Paulo Pires do Vale, the show features contemporary works by artists such as Ângela Ferreira, Fernanda Fragateiro, Hugo Canoilas and many others. It displays the Constitution’s text in artistic form, accompanied by new writings from authors including Lídia Jorge and Maria Inácia Rezola, and will be on view in the garden and exterior spaces of the Assembly and the Casa do Parlamento until 30 November.

The exhibition is intended to reinforce the Constitution as a shared patrimony, encouraging public reflection on principles like liberty, equality, housing, culture and resistance. It also includes participatory residencies, workshops and a “Four Flags Lisboa” project involving dozens of artists, aiming to bring constitutional debate to schools and communities across Portugal.