Beginning in the mid-1980s, large numbers of people from Portugal’s newly independent African colonies migrated to Bairro de Vale de Chícharos, more commonly known as "Bairro da Jamaika", on the outskirts of Lisbon. Seeking safety and economic stability, these arrivals – from Angola, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and other African nations, alongside a small population of Roma – appropriated and inhabited the area to create a thriving, albeit unauthorised, community.
‘Model of Jamaika’ presents a 1:10 scale, walk-in model of the neighbourhood’s recently demolished Bloco 10. The installation narrates some of the residents’ ongoing disputes with private landowners and local authorities, while presenting aspects of their everyday lives and still-unfolding future.
The model is an “anchor” generating further conversation around the neighbourhood. It is supplemented with a public programme of debates, performances and screenings addressing racism, marginalised art and the question of policies on resettlement processes.
Model of Jamaika (2021) was presented at maat in the context of the exhibition X is not a small country (18.03–06.09.2021), curated by Aric Chen, with Martina Muzi. A reduced version was displayed at INSTITUTO, in Porto, in 2024.
concept
Paulo Moreira, with Chão – Oficina de Etnografia Urbana and José Sarmento Matos
coordination
Paulo Moreira
project
Paulo Moreira Architectures (Paulo Moreira, Hermínio Santos, Joana Graça, Mario Martínez)
model
Arte Leite
structure
Panoramah
chronology
Chão – Oficina de Etnografia Urbana
text
Residents’ assembly of Bairro 6 de Maio (Amadora), Bairro da Torre (Loures), Bairro da Jamaika (Seixal), Quinta da Fonte (Loures), with support by Habita, Gestual, Chão, Paróquia de Camarate, Secretariado diocesano de Lisboa da pastoral dos ciganos
manuscript
Maria Cesaltina das Neves
graphic design
Pê
videos / interviews
Alda Pontes, Arioste Mandinga, Aurora Coxi, Asmir Djonis Bull, Diego Coxi, Edna Nazaré, Ivone Maxima, Leopoldo Pereira, Lurdes Pontes, Manuela Pedro, Naide Jordão, Roberto Cravid, Telma Reis
aknowledgements
Associação de Desenvolvimento Social de Vale de Chícharos and Salimo Mendes (in memoriam)
photography
Ivo Tavares Studio