Jorge Bacelar
RURALIDADES
RURALIDADES
Jorge Bacelar
22 August – 26 September 2026
Nadadouro • Fanadia • Nossa Senhora do Pópulo
Caldas da Rainha, Portugal
As part of the F/262 – International Photography Festival, Ruralidades by Portuguese photographer Jorge Bacelar presents a visual exploration of Portugal’s rural landscapes, traditions and communities, celebrating the people whose lives continue to shape the country’s cultural identity.
Rather than being confined to a single venue, Ruralidades unfolds across four exhibition spaces in three different communities within the municipality of Caldas da Rainha. This distributed exhibition transforms the territory itself into part of the curatorial experience, inviting visitors to travel between locations and discover complementary narratives that reveal different perspectives on rural life, memory and belonging.
Through intimate portraits, carefully observed everyday scenes and a deeply human documentary approach, Jorge Bacelar captures the resilience, dignity and continuity of rural communities. His photographs celebrate traditions while reflecting on the social and cultural transformations that continue to shape the Portuguese countryside.
Presented as part of the inaugural edition of F/262, Ruralidades reflects the festival’s commitment to connecting photography with territory, community and cultural heritage. By extending beyond the traditional gallery space, the exhibition encourages visitors to experience the municipality itself as an open-air cultural route, where each venue contributes to a broader narrative about identity, landscape and the relationship between people and place.
Exhibition Venues
Ruralidades is presented simultaneously across four venues located in three different communities of Caldas da Rainha:
- Nadadouro Parish Council (Nadadouro)
- Henrique Nunes da Costa Library (Nadadouro)
- Fanadia Ethnographic Museum (Fanadia)
- Espaço Turismo Exhibition Gallery (Nossa Senhora do Pópulo)
Together, these venues create a unique photographic trail, inviting audiences to experience the exhibition as a journey through the municipality while discovering the richness of its rural heritage.
Audio Guide
Audiodescrição do cartaz da exposição “Pela Fresca Sombra das Árvores de Lisboa”
Cartaz de formato vertical, com um design minimalista sobre um fundo cinzento claro.
No canto superior esquerdo encontra-se o logótipo circular preto do F/262 – Festival Internacional de Fotografia, acompanhado do nome do festival em letras pretas. Ao centro surge o selo EFFE Label 2026–2027, que distingue o festival como um dos festivais de artes de referência na Europa. No canto superior direito lê-se, em destaque, “Comemoração 200 Anos da Fotografia”.
O nome do fotógrafo, Luís Pavão, aparece em grandes letras pretas na parte superior direita.
O elemento central do cartaz é uma fotografia a preto e branco. A imagem mostra uma imponente árvore-dracena, de vários troncos espessos que sustentam uma copa ampla e densa, formada por folhas longas e arqueadas. A árvore ocupa grande parte da composição e domina um jardim urbano. Debaixo da sua sombra encontram-se bancos de jardim com algumas pessoas sentadas e um candeeiro clássico de iluminação pública. A fotografia transmite uma sensação de tranquilidade, frescura e contemplação, revelando a importância das árvores na paisagem urbana de Lisboa.
Na margem esquerda do cartaz, em letras pretas de grande dimensão dispostas na vertical, lê-se o título da exposição:
“Pela Fresca Sombra das Árvores de Lisboa”.
Na parte inferior encontram-se as informações da exposição:
Datas: 4 a 31 de julho de 2026.
Local: Galeria de Exposições, Piso 1, Espaço Turismo, Caldas da Rainha.
Inauguração: 4 de julho de 2026, às 18h00.
Horário: Segunda a sexta-feira, das 9h00 às 13h00 e das 14h00 às 17h00.
Entrada livre.
Ao longo da margem inferior surgem os logótipos da entidade organizadora e dos parceiros institucionais, entre os quais a Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, o Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa – Fotográfico, o Jornal das Caldas, a Caldas Revista e a Vila das Rainhas.
O conjunto apresenta uma identidade gráfica sóbria e contemporânea, utilizando apenas preto, branco e tons de cinzento, valorizando a fotografia como elemento central e reforçando o caráter documental e artístico da exposição.
Audio Description – Exhibition Poster: Ruralidades by Jorge Bacelar
The poster has a clean, contemporary design with a light grey background and bold black typography.
Across the top are three visual elements: on the left, the orange and black logo of the F/262 – International Photography Festival; in the centre, the EFFE Label 2026–2027, awarded by the European Festivals Association; and on the right, the inscription “Celebrating 200 Years of Photography”, marking the bicentenary of photography.
The centre of the poster is dominated by the exhibition title, RURALIDADES, displayed in large, bold, black capital letters. Beneath it appears the artist’s name, Jorge Bacelar.
The main photograph portrays two young people indoors, illuminated by soft natural light entering from the left. Both lean gently towards a duck they are carefully holding together. The person on the left wears a light-coloured knit hat and pale clothing, while the person on the right wears a patterned headscarf, a blue blouse and a checked apron. Their expressions are calm and contemplative, conveying tenderness, care and a profound connection with rural life. The dark background isolates the figures, drawing attention to the intimate relationship between people, animals and tradition.
Below the image, the exhibition details announce that Ruralidades will be on view from 22 August to 26 September 2026.
Unlike a conventional exhibition, this project is presented across four different venues in three communities within the municipality of Caldas da Rainha:
- Nadadouro Parish Council
- Henrique Nunes da Costa Library, Nadadouro
- Fanadia Ethnographic Museum
- Espaço Turismo Exhibition Gallery, Nossa Senhora do Pópulo
The official opening takes place on 22 August, and admission is free.
Along the bottom of the poster appear the logos of the F/262 Festival, the F/SOS Association and the supporting institutional partners.
The overall design combines documentary photography with a restrained visual language, inviting visitors to discover Portugal’s rural heritage through a journey across multiple exhibition spaces.
About the Artist
Jorge Bacelar is a Portuguese documentary photographer whose work focuses on people, cultural identity and the preservation of local heritage. Through long-term photographic projects, he documents communities, traditions and ways of life that reflect the social and cultural diversity of Portugal.
His photographic practice combines documentary observation with a sensitive visual language, producing work that is both intimate and timeless. His images reveal the enduring relationship between people, landscape and memory, creating visual narratives that celebrate everyday life while preserving stories for future generations.
Produced by F/262 & Associação F/SOS
With the support of:
May – September 2026
Caldas da Rainha Portugal
About F/262
F/262 is an international photography festival rooted in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Through exhibitions, talks, education, and public installations, the festival engages contemporary photography with place, community, and the world we share.
©2026 F/262 – Festival Internacional de Fotografia
Produced by Associação F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais
English (UK)