The eastern Algarve town of Alcoutim is preparing to unveil a new sculpture dedicated to women who have suffered abuse.
The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at 10.30am near the local cemetery.
According to a statement by the municipal council, the piece was created by Spanish sculptor and painter Pepe Gámez.
Carved from cream-coloured Macael marble from Almería, the sculpture depicts a female torso. The marble is internationally known for its “luminosity and quality”, the council points out, and Gámez has shaped it using his “characteristic artistic language, combining expressive strength with human sensitivity to convey a message of both denunciation and hope” when it comes to gender-based violence.
The artwork has been installed in a landscaped area near the town cemetery, close to the motorhome parking area. Its inauguration will be accompanied by a programme of cultural activities and events.
The initiative also forms part of a wider network of similar works created by the artist across Spain, including installations in Fines, Herencia, Córdoba, Lanzarote and Zaragoza, each designed to promote reflection, remembrance and social awareness in public spaces.
Originally from Melilla but now living in Ayamonte, Gámez has developed a close cultural relationship with the municipality of Alcoutim in recent years. The artist previously donated a collection of 25 sculptures and 11 paintings, which according to him are valued at more than €90,000 and now form part of the town’s artistic heritage.
According to Alcoutim mayor Paulo Paulino, the donation represents a significant contribution to the municipality’s cultural life. Many of the works are currently on display at the Ermida da Conceição chapel and the Carlos Brito municipal library, with the newly unveiled sculpture becoming the latest addition dedicated to women affected by abuse.
