Xávega's hands
In this exhibition, the hands hardened by Xávega will tell their stories, with verses and beautiful photographs.
By Museu Marítimo EXEA
By ahcravo gorim - António José Cravo
Xávega's hands - photo 23 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
The Xávega
In this exhibition, "ahcravo gorim", as António José Cravo likes to be called, presents the Xávega from an unusual perspective: from the hands.
But, what is 'Xávega'? "The 'Xávega' Art is an ancient fishing art that consists in throwing the nets into the sea near the shore...
...and dragging them to land. These nets are made up of three distinct parts: ropes, loops or sleeves, and a bag. It is carried out on the coastline, on sandy bottoms, and uses handcrafted means." (Gato, 2018, p. 13)
Tap to explore
Torreira, Portugal
Location where the photographs were taken between 1972 and the 1990s. In the image, we see a typical boat used in 'Xávega'.
Xávega's hands - photo 4 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Xávega's hands
The exhibition by ahcravo gorim - António José Cravo.
Intro
Some look at cars, others at the brand of clothing, others at faces, others devourwith their eyes what they don't eat
I look at my hands and I know that here, here I find everything.
The fisherman's hands are rough, cracked, sore, but extremely clean.
They are hands that the sea washes and sand scrubs.
They are hands of work, hands of men and women who bring in them the story of a life, of a love, of a war, of a toil...
of a desire to earn a life at the sea
Xávega's hands - photo 21 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
The hands you don't see
Empty hands
carved by the chisel
of time
Hands of having
no wealthy inheritance
big name
Salty hands
from so much sea so much sweat
so much to be
Xávega's hands - photo 12 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Hands with voice
hands of ours ignored
hands silenced
Hands hands hands
how many on the table
the fish the meat the bread the wine
Hands with face
hands hands hands
Look at the hands
that you don't see
here are the hands.
Xávega's hands - photo 6 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Through the
hands, sad rivers
flow and are from
the sea
Xávega's hands - photo 7 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
If hands could cry
Tears would be theirs too
Xávega's hands - photo 23 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Tie the knot,
splice the
rope
So
if men
were joined together
as hands in doing
Where the needle?
Xávega's hands - photo 17 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
As if in a dance
between the hands
the net path is made
Xávega's hands - photo 10 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Undid the ties
cut the knots
Through the fingers
the rope
Inside the
weary
embittered hand
children's voices
Undid the ties
cut the knots
the rope remains
Girls the fingers
Xávega's hands - photo 14 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Look at the hands
In the beginning were the hands
unique tools
gestures alphabet
and signs
From saying to doing
was everything by them
Xávega's hands - photo 18 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
See how the hands speak
how they break the silence
pay attention to them and listen
You will find in hands the answers
to the questions you didn't ask
in them everything is clear and transparent
Xávega's hands - photo 20 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Look at the hands
as if another body
and they are not
Xávega's hands - photo 19 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
How many crops
in how many
bags these
hands
lives with scales
Thy I tell you
of these men
of these hands
Xávega's hands - photo 22 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Net knitters
Meticulous art this
as if from a spider
labour of wise hands
Xávega's hands - photo 9 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Collect in them
have been before me
long before
the hands of my greater ones
Xávega's hands - photo 11 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Hard and simple hands
of work
transparent and clean
hands
Xávega's hands - photo 13 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
hands that I make mine
with pride
to be one among them
don't write me
how they did a net
is what hurts me
Xávega's hands - photo 5 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
How the hands speak,
they tell us
Xávega's hands - photo 15 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Message
The sardine the bread
the wine glass
essentials
Xávega's hands - photo 16 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Sea and land
in the hands of man
Essential to
own yourself
Xávega's hands - photo 24 (2022) by ahcravo - António José CravoMuseu Marítimo EXEA
Strangers
will be the
times to come
Essential to hold all hands
of all ones
[ Poems and photographs ]
António José Cravo
Photographer / Portugal
[ Translation ]
Antônio Lawand
Associate Researcher
EXEA Maritime Museum
George Henrique
Research Director
EXEA Maritime Museum
[ Diagramming ]
Ticiano Alves
General Director
EXEA Maritime Museum
[Exhibition Review]
Leandro Vilar
Exhibition Coordinator
EXEA Maritime Museum
Rebeca Garcia
Museologist
EXEA Maritime Museum
Raphaella Belmont Alves
Executive Director | Spell checker
EXEA Maritime Museum
Camila Rios
Technical Director | Museologist
EXEA Maritime Museum
[ Reference ]
GATO, Anabela Carvalho Santos Neto. A prática da Arte Xávega e os seus percursos de resistência entre a tradição e a modernidade: estudo de caso na Vila de Sesimbra e no Meco. Universidade Aberta: Tese de Doutorado. 2018.
