“Eu nunca vi o mar, mas juro—consigo senti-lo no ar e saborear o seu sal nos lábios.”
“I have never seen the sea but I swear, I am sure, I can smell it and taste its saltiness on my lips.”
Recovered Journal Entry, unknown date
Dona Júlia lived in mountainous borderlands, guiding travelers through dangerous passages she never traversed herself. In her small town, she prepared them for encounters with magical creatures that might lead them astray, sharing her knowledge through artifacts.
Cláudia Köver Jordão, a multi-disciplinary artist from Lisbon, Portugal, has deepened her connection to her cultural roots after a decade abroad. She draws from folklore and ancient legends, examining how memory intertwines with myth and how objects become vessels for ongoing narratives.
This exhibition presents Dona Júlia—an alter ego—through artifacts chronicling her existence. These objects embody protective beliefs, showing how stories evolve across generations. Köver's artistic vision creates meaningful pieces designed to tell their own tales after she is gone.
‘Travelling Altar’
Ink and acrylic on cardboard, 75 × 50 cm
A lightweight, easily carried shrine adorned with old Portuguese folklore symbols for safe passage created by Dona Júlia. Crafted from humble, fragile cardboard, it speaks to the accessibility of faith—something that can be carried, lost, or remade.
‘Cruz credo/ Heaven forbid’
Ceramic and chita fabric,
In Portuguese folklore, the cross evolved from a pre-Christian symbol into a powerful Christian emblem, protecting against evil and guiding lost souls. This cross hung in Dona Júlia's bedroom but could also have been worn, without revealing which faith she followed.
‘Pano promessa/Ribbon of Promise’
Chita fabric and wooden canvas, 30x30 cm
This piece reflects the tradition of leaving fabric strips at sacred sites as offerings. Knots in the fabric symbolized protection, guiding fate, or sealing intentions. We assume it was created by Dona Júlia during daylight hours—as tradition warned against cutting fabric after sunset—it offered travelers a protective charm to carry, extending her care beyond her home.
‘Olhapim’
Ceramic, 10x5 cm
The Olhapim is a small creature from Portuguese folklore with four eyes—two in front and two in back—allowing it to see in all directions, including past and future. Often both mischievous and wise, it guards secrets and hidden paths. It remains unclear whether this figure is a true Olhapim disguising itself as stone or Dona Júlia's creation to help outsiders understand this folkloric guardian.