… on Funchal seafront
FN report that Covid-19’s frontline professionals will be honoured on July 19, during a ceremony that will feature the presence of the President of the Republic and the unveiling of an installation and sculpture by Madeiran artist Martim Velosa.
The tribute is an initiative of the Regional Legislative Assembly and has the collaboration of the Hospital Particular da Madeira.
Authored by the sculptor Martim Velosa, the work intends to “lead us to reflect on the work that thousands of health professionals have developed during this long period, which has not yet ended”, can be read in the descriptive memory of the project.
The threat, often fatal, “altered our way of life, especially in the field of affections in which the embrace personifies fraternity with others in human relationships”. It is based on the hug that the project was developed, allowing the visitor to enter the sculptural piece and feel “safe”. On the other hand, says the sculptor, “the gesture of embracing reinforces the idea of gratitude”.
The sculpture is completed with a phrase from a Madeiran poet, leading to “a deeper reflection on the tireless work of the honourees”.
Martim Velosa also highlights that the sculpture, which can be visited individually, “allows for a unique and personal experience, an act of gratitude, or a moment of longing”.
The sculpture is produced in “patterned bronze” to last the nobility of the gesture of gratitude to all health professionals over time and will be placed next to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira (opposite, being prepared – photo Rui Marote, FN), in perfect harmony with the building’s aesthetics.
The inauguration of the sculpture is scheduled to take place after the Solemn Session Commemorating the Day of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, to take place in the afternoon of the 19th of July. The Madeiran parliament celebrates 45 years of existence this year.
Martim Oliveira Jardim e Silva Velosa was born in Funchal in 1973. He has a degree in plastic arts/sculpture from the Superior Institute of Art and Design of Madeira and over the years has participated in numerous individual and group exhibitions, in Portugal and abroad.
It has several public sculptures built, including the “Monument to the Entrepreneur of Madeira”, the “Monument to the International Year of Volunteering”, the “Monument to the Clube Sport Marítimo”, the “Sculpture Allusive to the 20 Years of Cement Madeira” , the “Panel Allusive to the work carried out by the company Via Litoral”, the “Sculpture in Homage to Winston Churchill, the “Monument to those who died in the great works of Madeira ‘Anjo Caído’” (Fallen Angel), located in the ASSICOM square, in partnership with the sculptor Ricardo Veloza, his father, and the “Monument in Homage to Nelson Mandela”, the only tribute outside of South Africa recognized by the party he led, the African National Congress (ANC).
A new tab has been added to the top of each page with a link to resources dealing with COVID-19 in Madeira – this covers the latest government regulations on travel to the island, how to get a PCR test, and many other links that will be useful to people wanting to travel to and from Madeira
COVID-19 in Madeira: daily updates can be found in an earlier post
Vaccinations in Madeira: updates can be found in an earlier post
