Led by Marion Buz, a dynamic presence in the Algarve arts scene, Jali emerges as a cultural centre showcasing art, music, dance, design and special events
Six years ago, Marion Buz had a vision. She bought an abandoned wine-cork factory in the heart of Silves, and this autumn that vision finally became reality.
Jali is a new cultural centre. We will present art, music, dance, design and special events,” she explains.
More than 100 guests attended the gala opening evening featuring a spectacular “Up-cycled” fashion show, with the fashion designs of four innovative Portuguese designers. At the same time, two Silves-based artists, Jean Davis and Manoli Ortiz de la Torre, inaugurated their art exhibitions.
The evening also included live music from Algarve singer and drummer Beto Kalulu, performing with a new folk-rock group, The Bostones.
The building has been completely renovated but retains the character of a classic design, paying homage to the style of its historic roots. Visitors enter through a large, welcoming entryway before discovering three spacious, well-lit gallery rooms.
Beyond these, glass doors open onto a garden that provides a flexible space and natural setting for a wide range of activities, gatherings, and presentations.
This is exactly what Marion Buz had in mind six years ago. She speaks about her plans to host children’s art groups, art events, exhibitions, music performances, dance shows, workshops and artist residencies.
She believes in bringing people together through creativity. “For every culture and language, art is the universal way to communicate,” she says. “We can make the world happier and safer if we share the enjoyment of creativity and self-expression.”
The opening fashion show featured a dozen models wearing a variety of up-cycled designs. The designers, from different parts of Portugal, were Cristina Guerreiro, Marta Vinhas, Manoli Ortiz de la Torre and Sara Figueiredo. The event entertained the audience in two galleries with a wide array of creative styles.
At the show, designer Marta Vinhas spoke about her commitment to sustainable fashion. “I worked in the commercial fashion industry for 20 years,” she recalled.
“There is so much waste and so little concern for the environment. As designers, we can do more to help the planet.” She now works with sustainable materials, particularly hemp, a very earth-friendly material. “It gives us artistic freedom to express ourselves through sustainable fashion,” she added.
One of the three galleries in Jali features the paintings of Silves artist Jean Davis, known for her use of the encaustic technique, which incorporates natural beeswax. Her work combines colour, texture and form to explore botanical and abstract subjects. “I have been working with beeswax encaustic art for 20 years,” she explained. “I love the blending of colour and the beautiful surface it provides.”
In another gallery, visitors can see a collection of cyanotype works by artist and fabric designer Manoli Ortiz de la Torre.
“I always start with nature for my fabrics, paintings and clothing. I am never alone when I am in nature; it is all around me and always beautiful. My artwork comes from plants, trees and the Algarve landscape,” explained the artist.
She moved to Portugal in 1999 after a career in Law in Munich, where she was a partner in a law firm. Following her long-standing interest in the arts, she opened her first cultural centre, Arte e Alegria, in Poço Barreto, also in the municipality of Silves. For eight years she presented exhibitions, music and dance performances there.
Later, she organised a series of music festivals called ‘Obrigado Portugal’, held over three years at Parque Municipal do Sítio das Fontes, in Estômbar. These events were dedicated to thanking the Portuguese people for welcoming foreign residents.
Buz is also a founder of Collaborarte, a creative shop in Silves that that hosts a collective of craftspeople and artisans. For her new cultural centre, the name ‘Jali’ came naturally. “I combined the initials of my four grandnieces, and it spelled the word ‘Jali’, which is also a term for a decorative pattern of overlapping designs,” she explained. “It illustrates my desire to create networks, connecting people through art.”
Follow Inside Algarve Magazine on Instagram and Facebook for more news!
Read also:
Quinta do Barranco Longo: The Algoz estate pioneering modern winemaking and pushing boundaries
