“Women Must Tear Down Many Walls”
Portuguese painter Carlos Farinha opened his exhibition Watching at Tosca Art & Design in Ankara, with the support of the Embassy of Portugal. Placing equality and freedom at the heart of his art, Farinha underlined that women, in particular, face a difficult struggle. “Women must tear down walls, many walls. Not only here, but also in my country and in others. Because the fight for equality is not easy,” he said.
M. FERHAT YÜKSEL
At the opening ceremony, Portuguese Ambassador Virgínia Pina highlighted the strong human rights message conveyed through Farinha’s work. “I would like to thank Carlos very much. He is an artist deeply sensitive to human rights, and this is the most important point for me,” the Ambassador noted.
Great Interest in Portuguese Culture
Ambassador Pina also expressed her delight at the growing appreciation for Portuguese culture in Türkiye. “Among Turkish people, Portuguese culture is truly admired. I cannot thank you enough for the respect and admiration you show for Portugal and our culture,” she said.
The Challenge of Equality
Reflecting on the inspiration behind his work, Carlos Farinha explained: “My heart is filled with small stories, many of them about women. For me, equality and freedom are essential values. They can only be strengthened through education. To fight harmful ideas, we need education. Women must tear down many walls, not only here, but also in my country and in others. Because the struggle for equality is difficult. In the place I come from, women could only vote after a revolution.”
A Poet as National Hero
Farinha also emphasized the cultural identity of Portugal: “Our national hero is a poet, Camões. Not a warrior or anyone else. That is why poetry is so important to us.” His words underline Portugal’s deep respect for literature and art.
The exhibition Watching by Carlos Farinha in Ankara will remain open to visitors at Tosca Art & Design for two weeks, offering an artistic reflection on women’s equality, freedom, and the cultural ties between Portugal and Türkiye.
