Gaspar and other companion species (2024)

My first visit to Picote was defined by the encounters with the human and non-human beings I met during those days. These included Anabela and Francisco, the extravagant trees that serenely live beside the roads, Glória of Vila Chã, and Glorinha of Barrocal, the monumental boulders, the tiny insects, and Gaspar, a gentle donkey who, meanwhile departed for worlds beyond human reach. Recalling these memories of my days in Picote, I proposed expanding the network of encounters and relationships that, convened by conversation, images, and whatever else emerged, generated an «animated ethnography» through its participants, both human and non-human.

Multimodal work (video DV [colour, audio, 8’47], photography and installation).
Exhibited and presented at the Primary School of Picote, during the IX Spring Encounters — Anthopology, Arts and the Senses, in Picote, Miranda do Douro (2024).

Video © Sónia Mota Ribeiro and Francisco Ramos. Sound, polaroid photos and drawing © Sónia Mota Ribeiro
More information here.


Gaspar and other companion species — Video [DV, colour, audio, 8’47].


View of the installation at Picote primary school. Headstall of the donkey Gaspar, polaroids of the project participants and two walking sticks donated by shepherd Telmo. Photograph by Miguel Parada.

Detail of the installation. Polaroid photographs of the human and non-human participants. Photograph by Pedro Tudela.

Detail of the installation. Gaspar the donkey's headstall.
Photograph by Pedro Tudela.

Detail of the installation. Chalk drawing of the relational map of human and non-human participants. Photograph by Miguel Parada.

Project presentation at Picote primary school.

Sónia Mota Ribeiro and Francisco Ramos at the project presentation. Photograph by Pedro Tudela.

Project presentation at Picote primary school.