Painting Memory and Democracy: The Resilient Journey of the EUxFUTURE Mural in Lisbon

Overcoming bureaucratic and thematic challenges, AAUTS joined forces with the community and international artists to bring the EUxFUTURE mural in Lisbon to life, transforming a busy road axis into an open-air classroom about European history.

The construction of European identity begins with understanding our shared history. Every stroke of the EUxFUTURE mural in Lisbon was born precisely from this idea: transforming knowledge into art, memory into color, and community into active participation. This work is part of a network of five twin murals created within the CERV program, located in Budapest, Malaga, Marseille, Milan, and Lisbon.

However, the path to the final wall demanded enormous resilience from the AAUTS team. During the months of April and May, we faced complex institutional mediation challenges: the Alto da Serafina School initially refused the representation of “War” in the sketch, teaching us the importance of explaining that the project celebrates the transition from war to peace; soon after, weeks of negotiations with the Vale das Flores Cooperative did not advance due to condominium bureaucracy.

The big turning point came in June, after a decisive meeting with GAU (Urban Art Gallery) and the Lisbon City Council, which allowed us to secure the ideal location on Avenida Santo Condestável, next to the Feira do Relógio (Clock Fair).

During an intense week of work, the gray space under the viaduct was transformed into a vibrant meeting point. The artistic execution was the responsibility of the talented artists Daniela Alemão, Karolina Kornek (guest artist from Poland) and Tiago Soares.

At the same time, the educational component shone through the three-day workshops coordinated by Mafalda Garcia, where children, young people and adults learned about the Schuman Declaration, historical dates and democratic values.

The community’s involvement was total: they painted letters, pillars, the ground, and created stencils, closely supported by the operational dedication of Roselyne de Linière, Lina Lopes, Ermelindo Quaresma, and Joana Roque de Pinho, in addition to the constant affection and support of local residents.

 

The impact of this mural far transcends urban aesthetics; it is a landmark of visibility and civic education. With a strategic location, it is estimated that approximately 18,000 vehicles pass by the mural daily and 30,000 weekly visitors to the Feira do Relógio (Clock Fair), translating into more than 90,000 views during the first week and more than 1 million in the coming years.

With approximately 38 direct participants in the practical activities, the mural also stands out for its innovative and interactive character: it includes a QR Code that allows any citizen to access an educational quiz about the European Union.

By overcoming initial obstacles and delivering an excellent result, AAUTS proved that urban art is the perfect tool to unite generations and keep the collective memory of Europe alive.

This activity is part of the EUxFUTURE project, co-financed by the European Union through the CERV program.

With the essential support of GAU – Galeria de Arte Urbana and the Lisbon City Council.