O Gringo talk about your first book : Azulejo Vivo
Art • Memory • Portugal
Azulejo Vivo
The world of O Gringo, between the covers of a book.
A story that lives on in the homes of its readers.
01 / The book
Tiles become skin.
A story becomes a book.
A face, a gesture, two hands. In O Gringo’s work, Portuguese tile patterns meet the skin and become a way of telling stories.
Azulejo Vivo invites you into that world: to meet the artist, discover his creative process and explore works and collections where photography, heritage and emotion meet.
From Lisbon’s façades to the National Tile Museum, from fado to street art, the book brings together moments from a journey shaped by encounters. Published in Portuguese, English and French, it is a book to discover, to give and to return to.
Explore the National Tile Museum exhibitionIn the artist’s own words
“There is something very special about knowing that a part of my work has found a home with someone.”
When this book first came to life, I had no idea how far it would travel.
I remember walking past FNAC at the airport and seeing people buying my book. It was a feeling unlike anything else. Then came the photographs, the messages and the Instagram posts from different parts of the world. Realising that my work was travelling with those people meant so much to me.
Since Azulejo Vivo was published, my career has taken me through new chapters. Yet the book keeps finding readers, and I still receive photographs from places I would never have imagined.
There is something very special about knowing that a part of my work has found a home with someone. That they open the book again, think of me and find something in it that moves them. That affection means a great deal to me.
Thank you to Objecto Anónimo for the invitation, to my production company, Paris 75 Image, to Dr Alexandre Nobre Pais, Dr Dora Fernandes and my dear Kátia Guerreiro for their contributions. And thank you to everyone whose work helped bring this book to life.
To everyone who has taken it home: thank you for making room for my art in your life.
O Gringo
Bastien Tomasini
02 / Voices along the way
One book. Many voices.
Essays and personal reflections bring readers closer to the work and to the people who have helped shape its story.
Alexandre
Nobre Pais
A perspective shaped by the exhibition at the National Tile Museum. His essay explores the meeting of photography, ceramics, the human body and the expressive world of fado.
Dora
Fernandes
Curator of O Gringo’s exhibition at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon, Dora Fernandes brings a close understanding of the artist’s work to the book.
Kátia
Guerreiro
The fado singer recalls a deeply emotional photographic session. A personal account of trust, openness and a shared affection for Portuguese tile art.
With an introduction by Susana Fonseca. Published by Objecto Anónimo.
03 / Meeting the readers
An afternoon
at FNAC Chiado.
The launch of Azulejo Vivo at FNAC Chiado in Lisbon brought together O Gringo, the publisher, Dr Dora Fernandes and Dr Carla Alexandra Mendonça Moreira, representing CERCIMA.
Alongside conversations about the book and the artist, the launch offered a moment to reflect on a relationship that reaches beyond art: the ongoing collaboration with CERCIMA and the people at its heart.
Art & inclusion
CERCIMA is part of this story.
The book also makes room for O Gringo’s collaboration with CERCIMA. A relationship built through creativity, participation and a commitment to inclusion.
In her opening address at FNAC, Carla Alexandra Mendonça Moreira spoke about this bond and the importance of the partnership for the organisation and the people it supports.
Discover the CERCIMA story04 / Inside the book
Inside Azulejo Vivo with O Gringo.
Join the artist as he turns the pages and shares the images and stories of Azulejo Vivo.
05 / From exhibition to book. From book to artwork.
One image.
More than one way to keep it.
The image on the cover of Azulejo Vivo is connected to the exhibition Entre Dois Mundos in Ovar, presented within the framework of Aveiro — Portuguese Capital of Culture 2024.
The image used for the exhibition cover became the cover of the book and the basis for a tile edition, created by O Gringo for those who wish to keep a piece of his artistic world.
Discover the edition pairing the book with a tile artwork on the artist’s official website.
06 / Beyond the pages
Lisbon, in the open air.
O Gringo’s street art route invites you to continue the journey through Lisbon. A map connecting the images in the book with the places they inhabit.
07 / Take the story home
Your next art book.
For your library, as a gift, or to discover another perspective on Portugal. Choose where to buy Azulejo Vivo.
ISBN 9789898962379 · Portuguese, English and French · Check prices, availability and delivery options with each retailer.
Also listed among the book’s stockists: Ler Devagar. For the collector’s edition, visit the artist’s official website or the Artsper listing.
The story continues
A new book
is taking shape.
New works, encounters and stories continue to shape O Gringo’s journey. A new book is in preparation. Get in touch to learn more.