Artists

As the daughter of Portuguese immigrants, Kika Vilela (she/her) explores the experience of being in the in between. She connects this experience to the Portuguese notion of “saudade”: a longing for people, places and moments that are absent but continue to resonate. In her artistic practice, Kika translates this elusive feeling into imaginary spaces. Blue-and-white ceramic tiles form the foundation of these visual worlds, opening onto a space that feels familiar while remaining fictional. The Portuguese azulejo tradition and its iconographic imagery remain recognisable, while their meanings are subtly shifted. The familiar stays visible and, at the same time, becomes open to new readings.

Through its durability, ceramic carries within it the possibility of enduring over time. Salt extends this idea through its preservative qualities, becoming a second layer of conservation. Rather than preserving a particular place, Kika preserves memories of closeness and togetherness.

In your works, you draw on the forms of ornamental grilles and fences. What changes when you translate these forms into ceramic?
At first glance, the grilles appear solid, defensive or even threatening. Their forms recall architectural elements designed to protect and mark boundaries. In my works, however, they lose this function. They no longer separate spaces or offer any actual protection. Translated into ceramic, they become fragile and breakable. I am interested in this moment when something that conveys strength and separation loses its original function and, in doing so, becomes vulnerable.

What does bacalhau mean to you, and what role does its traditional preservation with salt play in your work?
Bacalhau (salted cod) and the wine canister represent moments of togetherness that are closely connected to my family in Portugal. I am less interested in depicting a specific moment than in capturing and preserving the feeling carried by these memories. Salt plays a particular role in this. Bacalhau is traditionally preserved with salt so that it can be kept for long periods of time. I transfer this process of preservation to memory itself.