0
items:
£0
Ricardo Romero‘s sculpture “Vamos / Let’s go?!” is a magnificent cultural intervention piece that aims to honour the dialogue between the timelessness of local culture, the concept of place, and the infinite possibilities of how time occupies space.
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
The artwork depicts a young child playing with a graffiti train on a figure 8 train track, symbolising infinity and the guiding thread. The sculpture is located in Setubal on an island surrounded by actual vehicles and coaches as they pass by. “Vamos” represents the connection between the two fundamental elements that ferment Setubal’s culture.
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
“When it comes to Setubal, the concept to be developed with the piece is mainly related to the connection between two fundamental elements that ferment the city’s culture: the indisputably characteristic environment (space), and the historical surroundings (time,) portrayed as a always eternal and rejuvenating guiding thread.”
Ricardo Romero
.
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
The child in the sculpture symbolically represents the timeless criterion, the innocence of a welcoming space where anyone can grow, evolve, or return to their origins with the same joy that children play with. The child’s hand holds an old train, which offers a journey through the imagination. Romero uses a playful and childlike perspective to convey the message that time and space can significantly affect our mood.
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
The poem “Either this or that” by Brazilian poet Cecília Meireles, included in the artist’s description, further emphasises the theme of choices and the infinite possibilities life offers. In ‘Vamos,’ the child is playing with the train while actual vehicles drive past, paying tribute to the poem’s ‘Either this or that’ limitations. “It’s such a pity that one cannot be at two different places at the same time!”
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
“Either this or that” by Cecília Meireles (1901-1964)
It’s either raining and not sunny, or it’s sunny and not raining!
You either wear a glove and not a ring, or you wear a ring and not a glove!
Those who go up in the air do not stay on the ground,
those who stay on the ground don’t go up in the air.
It’s such a pity that one cannot be at two different places at the same time!
I either save up money and don’t buy candies,
or l buy candies and don’t save up money.
Either this or that, either this or that…
I keep choosing this or that all day long!
I never know whether I should play or study,
or whether I go running or relax.
But…I still can’t figure out what is best: if it is this or that.”
The sculpture “Vamos?!” by Ricardo Romero offers a powerful message about the importance of embracing both time and space to promote well-being and connection with our surroundings.
Ricardo Romero “Vamos?!” Sculpture, Setubal. Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
Image Copyright Pedro Guerra
