Waves & Peace

27 Jan - 27 Mar 2026

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The tapestry exhibition by artist Griet Baeyens brings together textile works that address central themes of our time, such as climate change, plastic pollution, endangered species, human rights and peace.

Anchored in the tradition of Flemish tapestry, Griet’s practice reinterprets a historical heritage to respond to urgent social and environmental challenges. Her work balances accessibility and complexity, using a language that encourages dialogue and critical awareness. Each work thus functions as a field of visual reflection and invites the audience to transcend the boundaries of perception and explore deeper meanings.

Her tapestries are produced from recycled wool scraps that would otherwise be discarded, reinforcing the artist's commitment to the circular economy and sustainable artistic practices. Natural elements, such as water, are present in the exhibition, establishing parallels between artistic expression and ethical responsibility.

In her universe filled with symbolism, birds were chosen as the central theme of this exhibition, serving as a mirror between their world and ours. Are we really so different or do we share more than we imagine? — her works question.

Deliberately, the artist also incorporates the peace symbol as an advocacy for universal understanding. More than an aesthetic representation, Griet's project asserts itself as a call for solidarity and collective action, underlining the importance of respect for life and the environment as an essential condition for a common future.

At the exhibition's opening, Griet will talk, in English, with journalist Isabel Nery about her works, her relationship with the Flemish tapestry tradition and her contemporary influences.

 

Griet Baeyens

Griet Baeyens studied painting and photography at Sint-Lucas in Ghent, Belgium, where she held her first exhibition in 1976. Throughout her career, she has participated in numerous projects and exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, including collaborations in Japan and various European countries. Her career includes collaborations with renowned Belgian designers such as Walter Van Beirendonck, Herr Seele and Benoit Van Innis, and the creation of works for institutions and companies. She also explores tiles (azulejo), with particular emphasis on projects presented in Portugal and integrated into institutional collections. In 2024, she represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale with the exhibition Moving Water, developed using innovative processes and environmentally responsible materials. Parallel to her artistic practice, she has collaborated with leading museum institutions, such as the Groeninge and Memling museums in Bruges, developing educational content. She founded Kinderatelier Octopus, a public visual arts studio for children between 6 and 12 years old, which today welcomes hundreds of participants daily in Bruges and its surroundings.

Isabel Nery is an award-winning journalist, essayist and researcher in Literary Journalism, and biographer of Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (3rd edition, 2019). She is the author of several non-fiction works, including Cerco ao Parlamento – Quando a Assembleia Constituinte e a Democracia foram Tomadas de Assalto (2023), Os 5 Homens Que Mudaram Portugal Para Sempre (2022) and the reportage book As Prisioneiras – Mães Atrás das Grades (2012), as well as the essay Chorei de Véspera – Ensaio sobre a Morte, por Amor à Vida (2016) and Política e Jornais – Encontros Mediáticos (2004). She collaborates with international publications, such as the Dutch newspaper De Correspondent. Currently, she is the research chair of the International Association for Literary Journalism Studies (IALJS) and vice-president of the Media Literacy and Journalism Association (ALPMJ). Her work has been distinguished with several awards, including the Maria Lamas Woman Reportage Award, the Journalism for Tolerance Award, the Parity Award for Women and Men in Media and the UNESCO Journalism and Integration Award.

 

Information

Waves & Peace Exhibition
Griet Baeyens
27th: Opening. The artist will talk, in English, with journalist Isabel Nery, from 7 pm to 7:45 pm
From 28 January to 27 March, daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Rua de Santa Catarina, 3 (The Lisbon Club55)
Supported by the Embassy of Belgium in Portugal