Exhibition “Sardine – The Endless of Cerco Fishing”
Sardine – The Endless Fishing of the Siege” arrives at the Museum of Portimão on October 4, after the launch of the book with the same name. Portimão will be the only Algarve city to host this documentary exhibition.
The Gastronomic Brotherhood of Sardine of Portimão, with the support of the Municipality of Portimão, brings to the Museum of Portimão the exhibition “Sardine – The Endless of Siege Fishing”, a moving and profound portrait of sardine fishing in Portugal. The inauguration is scheduled for October 4, 2025, at 4:00 pm.
The Gastronomic Brotherhood of the Sardine of Portimão promises to surprise the public with exclusive revelations and exciting news that will only be known on the same day. An event filled with emotion, identity and, of course, many surprises that will not leave anyone indifferent.
By photographer Hélder Luís, the exhibition “Sardine – The Endless Fishing of the Siege”, is the result of an extensive documentary photography project developed between 2018 and 2022, during which the author accompanied crews of purse seine vessels throughout the country. The work delves into the experience of Portuguese fishing communities, capturing the daily life, emotions and intimate relationship of fishermen with the sea — a workspace as vast as it is unpredictable.
“The real challenge was to capture the soul of the activity — the life of the fishermen, the strength of the natural elements and the constant uncertainty that defines everyday life,” says Hélder Luís.
Over four years, the photographer has traveled through ports from north to south, and now brings that sensitive and deep look to the Algarve, in a unique opportunity for the region’s public.
The exhibition includes photographs, texts, infographics and technical drawings that help to contextualize and deepen knowledge about purse seine fishing — a traditional technique for catching sardines, whose practice involves not only technical knowledge, but also cultural heritage and collective identity.