A CAÇADA is a multidisciplinary project around the traditional octopus fisheries in Sesimbra where we explore some  impacting aspects of this activity which having a growing relevance on this ancient fishing village fisheries.

We talk about the unbalances between sustainability and over fishing, the old traditional traps versus the ever growing use of plastic fishing gear and the loss of local knowledge of the old traditional fishing arts.
The uncontrollable accumulation of fish-traps lost or left behind on the seabeds and its impact on marine pollution.
And from the octopus point of view, its claustrophobic trapping that can last for weeks only to end with an unequal fight, being pulled and slaughterer out of their encarceration.


Four simultaneous exhibition were presented at the Maritime Museum of Sesimbra from 4th July to 4th October 2021:

A Caçada -  installation with marine litter, mainly fish-traps, ropes and gost fishnets obtained from the local fishing industry.

A Armadilha -  A interactive sculpture made with reused fishnets and construction steel bars, inspired by the local fish-traps design, where the public is invited to enter the art piece.

O Polvo - A photographic exhibition by Pedro Barros, investigating  the current work practices involved in the local octopus fisheries a the fishing port in Sesimbra with illustrations by Ângela Menezes of the octopuses fished during the photographic journey.

O Sudário - An illustration exhibition of the main species of cephalopodes and fish captured locally, using the traditional Japanese technique of Gyotaku mono-printing.



This art project was awarded an honorable mention at the 2022 Portuguese Museology Association AWARDS (APOM  https://apom.pt/) in the cathegory for best temporary exhibition in the Portuguese Museums.