POR:TA TALK #4: Building a World With Room for All of Us - The Power of Art as a Bridge

Join us for POR:TA TALKS #4, at Ando Living Rooftop, for a conversation that reflects on the role of art in an increasingly fragmented world.

We live in a context shaped by geopolitical, social, and cultural divisions, where the distance between individuals, communities, and realities continues to grow. In this landscape, we ask a central question: what role can art play in fostering human connection?

In this edition, we explore the power of art as a bridge, across culture, spirit, technology, and humanity, and its ability to generate empathy, understanding, and new forms of connection. Through diverse perspectives and practices, this conversation invites us to consider art as a space of encounter and as an active force in shaping a more inclusive world.

The panel brings together Benjamin Weil, a contemporary art professional with extensive experience in artistic direction, curatorial practice, art production, collection building, and museum planning, who most recently led the relaunch of CAM Gulbenkian in Lisbon; Mayra Andrade, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Cape Verdean music, known for reinventing tradition and bridging culture, memory, and modernity; and Sharzad, a visual artist and storyteller who uses mirrors to transform perception and explore identity and human connection, drawing on Persian poetry and ancient narratives.

The conversation will be moderated by Derrick N. Ashong, an Emmy-nominated media maverick with a distinguished career as a producer, musician, and entrepreneur, whose work focuses on the intersection of media, culture, and social impact.

POR:TA TALKS is a space for dialogue, listening, and reflection where different voices come together to critically engage with the present and imagine possible futures.