Mimesis: playing the art of building without limits
The LEGO® workshop served as a "warm-up" for the upcoming event 'Games Go to the Market: Pawns and Art in Motion', taking place on 17 May at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market.
On 10 May, the Lufapo-Hub space in Coimbra transformed into a creative and inclusive laboratory, where hands of all ages shaped ideas, emotions, and experiences using LEGO® pieces. The activity "Pawns play with the art of building without limits" marked a playful moment of artistic expression and diversity, organised by the Associação Inclusão Contacto (AIC) as part of the University of Coimbra's Mimesis Theatre and Performing Arts Cycle.
“We’re proposing a hands-on activity with LEGO to explore subjective content, emotions, and to experiment with a different method of communication, problem-solving, and connecting it to artistic and aesthetic expression,” explained Ana Almeida, President of AIC.
The workshop was designed to welcome everyone, regardless of age, language, or background, and to encourage connection and sharing through play. "The association is all about inclusion, particularly through play. We bring people together because there are no age limits, and we can express ourselves by building and presenting models. Our goal is to bring everyone together at the same construction table,” said Ana Almeida.
“Today's activity is a warm-up, blending aesthetics and art with our surroundings. It involves artisans and artists coming together to create a community,” the organiser emphasised. “The idea is to create an artistic environment as an alternative play space for all ages.” This initiative was a prelude to the next activity organised by AIC, which will take place on 17 May at 14:30 at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market in Coimbra. Titled 'Games go to the market: Pawns and Art in Motion', the event will bring board games into the public space to promote inclusion, well-being and creativity.
At the market event, we want to emphasise the board game, which we’re also developing here at Lufapo,” Ana Almeida added. "The board game serves the same purpose, using a universal language where culture, language, age, and gender are not discriminated against, ensuring everyone is welcome to enjoy this alternative form of play that we promote at the association."
Ana Almeida also highlighted that the upcoming activity will have a strong community component: “We’ll organise tables with our members, friends, and collaborators, including the LGBT community, the deaf community, migrants – we want to bring diversity to the table and invite people to contribute."
The event is free to attend, and everyone is invited to move the pawns on a board of empathy, imagination, and belonging.
Find out more about the 6th edition of the University of Coimbra’s Mimesis Theatre and Performing Arts Cycle here.
Games Go to the Market: Pawns and Art in Motion
Organiser: Associação Inclusão Contacto
Venue: Mercado Municipal D. Pedro V – Coimbra
Games Go to the Market: Pawns and Art in Motion is an initiative that brings board games into the public space, celebrating artistic expression, inclusion, and, simultaneously, well-being. Tables where games unfold invite the participation of people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and physical or mental conditions. Each pawn moved in a flow of competition/coordination offers participants, as well as passers-by, the immersion in play or movements that build new stories, identity, and the opportunity to be part of something, to be human, complete, and creative. The games will run until 18:30.
For all audiences.