"Abyan" Exhibition Closes After Celebrated Run at Dama Art Gallery

Porto, Portugal – The acclaimed “Abyan” exhibition at Dama Art Gallery, a member institution of the Artdomain network, officially concluded on June 7, marking the end of a highly successful five-week showcase of contemporary spiritual and environmental art. Open to the public from May 3, the exhibition featured 45 original watercolor works by Portuguese artist Joana Calvet.

The exhibition drew strong attendance and praise from both the general public and the local arts community, with viewers responding positively to the deeply personal yet universal themes explored throughout the show. “Abyan” — a name rooted in concepts of clarity and purification — invited visitors into a reflective space where spirituality, ancestry, and ecological awareness were interwoven through delicate yet powerful visual storytelling.

Through her evocative use of watercolor, Joana Calvet presented symbolic interpretations of African Orixás—spiritual guardians of the elements: fire, water, air, and earth. The works emerged from a period of profound personal transformation for the artist and highlighted the urgent need for environmental consciousness in contemporary society.

Calvet’s re-engagement with art came after a long hiatus following her formal training in visual arts and a professional career in architecture and urban planning. Her spiritual journey, which included a significant personal encounter with the Afro-Brazilian religious tradition of Candomblé, served as the foundation for the exhibition.

Each piece in "Abyan" was accompanied by reflective texts or phrases, echoing messages the artist encountered during meditation and spiritual practice. The collection blended intuitive creativity with cultural symbolism, contributing to its emotional and intellectual resonance with visitors.

Dama Art Gallery praised the exhibition's impact:

“Abyan brought a fresh, resonant voice to our programming. The feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, with many remarking on the emotional depth and environmental urgency of the work,” said a gallery representative.

The show also underscored the role of art in fostering dialogue around sustainability, spirituality, and cultural heritage. By invoking ancestral wisdom through the lens of contemporary watercolor, Calvet’s work called attention to the fragile state of our planet and the need for collective responsibility.

As the gallery closes the curtain on “Abyan,” Dama Art Gallery reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovative exhibitions that merge artistic expression with social and spiritual relevance.

Reporting by: DXB News Network Arts Correspondent