Jessica Barker in conversation with Joana Ramôa Melo and Pedro Redol

Recent rediscovery of the Monastery of Batalha's religious and spiritual significance challenges its long-standing perception as primarily a national symbol. The 2015 exhibition 'Places of Prayer' aimed to restore balance by curating objects and records from the monastery, countering the emphasis on nationalistic symbolism that emerged post-1834. Research reveals that the Founder's Chapel, often seen through a political lens, was originally conceived with deep religious meaning, much of which has been lost due to secularization. The project 'Monumental Polychromy' further explores this by analyzing medieval wall paintings in the chapel, offering insights into its original artistic and spiritual context.

(Ed.). (2017). Jessica Barker in conversation with Joana Ramôa Melo and Pedro Redol. Sculpture Journal, 26(2), 261–264. https://doi.org/10.3828/sj.2017.26.2.9