A Terceira Palmeira is a video project developed for the researcher Professor Paulo Almeida (FBAUP / i2ADS). The work documents a performance that addresses botanical memory and the transformation of the urban landscape in the city of Porto.
In the performance, a body transforms into a "Living Palm Tree," occupying specific urban sites where palm trees once stood before being removed due to urban development and historical shifts. Using stilts and a costume specifically designed for this action—including signaling flags that emulate palm fronds—the figure moves through the city as a mobile monument.
My role in this project was the cinematography and video editing, capturing the inherent tension between the performative body and the rigidity of the urban environment. The video serves as more than a simple record; it functions as an integral part of the work by visually reinstating vegetation into its original locations, highlighting Paulo Almeida’s critique of the loss of natural heritage in the face of city evolution.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Project: A Terceira Palmeira (The Third Palm Tree)
Researcher/Artist: Paulo Almeida (FBAUP / i2ADS)
Role:Cinematography and Video Editing
Year: 2025
Location: Porto, Portugal
Medium: Video Performance Documentation
Technical Specifications:
Visuals: Urban cinematography focusing on the interaction between the performer and historical botanical sites.
Editing: Intentional pacing that emphasizes the surreal presence of the "Living Palm" amidst city traffic and architecture.
Themes: Urban ecology, botanical memory, displaced landscapes, and public space intervention.