By Rosário Salema de Carvalho, Ana Almeida, Inês Leitão and Patrícia Nóbrega

This essay presents Pop Galo as a sculpture that opens new perspectives for the use and exploration of one of the types of art that most characterizes the collective imaginary and the Portuguese patrimonial heritage – the azulejo [glazed tile].

By Guilherme d'Oliveira Martins
President of Centro Nacional de Cultura

Talking about a rooster in Portugal is not evoking an insignificant symbol, it is recalling deep cultural roots that came from the past and are projected in future time and overseas. There are no doubts that this is a strong symbol – and it is not enough to remind that, in Greek mythology, symbol (simbolo) is exactly what brings together, in opposition to diabolo, which is what divides….

By João Manuel Mimoso

The Rooster of Barcelos became a Portuguese icon. This status is about half a century old, but the extraordinary piece of design with the rooster's morphology is much older. This article will provide a chronological overview until our days.

By Maria Manuela d'Oliveira Martins
Diretor of Museu do Oriente

Several symbologies are given to the rooster in the Western and Eastern cultures. In all of them, it is universally connected to the cult of the sun because its chant announces sunrise.