The book ‘The Portuguese (Re)Constitution’ is a reformulation of the Portuguese Constitution of 1933, released on April the 25th 2022, on Portugal’s “National Freedom Day’. It uses the ‘blackout poetry’ technique. Several poets and illustrators passed the blue pencil over this constitution until some words were highlighted, celebrating the freedom of expression. It is now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Aljube, for Resistance and Freedom, in Lisbon.
Named ‘ReConstituição Portuguesa’ in Portuguese, this unprecedented book is described by its editor (Companhia das Letras, part of Penguin Random House Portugal) as “A manifesto that transforms a symbol of fascism – the blue pencil – into poetic cries of freedom.” In the video, we are invited to go back in time, more specifically to the period between 1933 and 1974, decades in which Portugal lived under a dictatorial regime. Using the technique of blackout poetry, the design project applied the famous blue pencil (symbol of fascism) to words from the 1933 Constitution, giving rise to poems and illustrations that extol the values of April.
This work had the participation of several Portuguese authors and artists, including: Filipe Homem Fonseca, Gilson Barreto (Dela Mantra), Gisela Casimiro, DJ Huba, João Silveira, Jorgette Dumby , José Anjos, Li Alves, Lila Tiago, Lucerna do Moco, Luís Perdigão, Maria Giulia Pinheiro, Marina Ferraz, Miguel Antunes, Nilson Muniz, Nuno Piteira, Paola D’Agostino, Rita Capucho, Rita Taborda Duarte, Sérgio Coutinho.
AWARDS
This campaign has been awarded at the following major festivals:
– Cannes Lions 2022: Design Grand Prix.
CREDITS
Clients: Companhia Das Letras and Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. Agency: FCB Lisbon.
