From the artist himself:
My name is Pedro Miguel Baptista Longuinho, I am 43 years old, and I bring the character and artisan known as "Avô das Botas" to life.
This character was born in 2023 following several fortunate coincidences, initially sparked by the search for a perfect mask for his character, and later by the need to keep the tradition of the cork mask alive.
Avô das Botas aims to be a tribute to Grandfather Alfredo—who lived in the village of Manjão in Góis and was a shoemaker—as well as a tribute to Master Cork Mask Artisans Cerdeira and Claro, from whom a great deal of inspiration is drawn.
Having already crafted, distributed, and exhibited several masks nationwide, in 2024 the Avô managed to take a cork mask—with the first cut made by the hand of Mr. Claro—to the exhibition organized by the "Saber Fazer" program. He also participated in the GóisOroso exhibitions in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
The year 2025 was the character's most successful to date, highlighted by interviews in local newspapers (Diário de Coimbra and Diário das Beiras), on the digital channel BeiraTV, and with major exposure on RTP1 on the show A Nossa Tarde, hosted by Tânia Ribas.
The year 2025 was also marked by a photographic record by Pepe Brix, a renowned National Geographic photographer. The Avô was present at the Ceirarte fair in 2025 and 2026, held in the village where he lives, which kindly invited him to participate, thus spreading his art and roots a little further.
Still in 2025, he managed to exhibit his cork mask at the Beatniks store/gallery in Buarcos. In 2026, through workshops, he brought his tradition to the Louzã Henriques Museum in Lousã and the Afonso Duarte Library in Montemor-o-Velho, and was also present at Romane's Atelier in Serpins.
He also participated with his masks in LOURIBD 2026, notably highlighting the work developed together with Fernando António, entitled "Sketches of a Tradition – Look, sorry, it was a glass of wine and a coffee."
In short, the goal is to maintain and continue this art and cork craftsmanship, promote the mask and the Schist Villages Carnival (Entrudo das Aldeias do Xisto), and finally, honor those who have passed away but remain intimately connected to this tradition.
Links: Instagram
