Leiria
Permanent installation at Museu Moinho do Papel · Portugal · 13 September 2025
A place beside the River Lis
Baci Sospesi arrived in Leiria through a chain of encounters that began during an artistic residency in France in 2023. A workshop and exhibition followed in July 2024. In 2025, the Municipality of Leiria proposed that Barbara work with the local artist Abílio Febra on a permanent installation for the Museu Moinho do Papel, the historic paper mill beside the River Lis.
The mill connects paper and moving water through its own history. For Baci Sospesi, it also offers a place where a message can be left, received and carried into another person’s life.
A sculpture and three red benches
Abílio and Barbara worked side by side for two intense weeks. They designed and built a sculpture and three red kiss-shaped benches. The work gives visitors places to sit as well as forms in which to leave a thought.
Abílio drew one form open like a U. Barbara’s forms had usually been closed. He explained that the U was an embrace and part of his sculptural language. She welcomed it: his language enlarged the project while remaining in relationship with its meaning.
The installation opened on 13 September 2025. Visitors can sit on the benches, hear the river and leave a message. It mainly receives messages from children and young people, who visit the museum with their schools and take part in its many activities for the local community.
Co-creation and responsibility
This installation is by Barbara Sbrocca and Abílio Febra, commissioned by the Municipality of Leiria. His contribution remains visible within the broader artistic project created and directed by Barbara.
Working together also clarified the importance of agreements about principles, roles, decisions and credit. A participatory project needs room for another artist’s language and clarity about what carries the name Baci Sospesi. Both protect the people involved and the coherence of the work.
The collective exhibition, September 2025
The inauguration of the permanent installation on 13 September 2025 was accompanied by a collective exhibition at Museu Moinho do Papel, which ran until 23 September. Fifteen artists presented work inspired by Baci Sospesi through painting, photography, installation, sculpture and poetic writing.
Exhibiting artists: Elsa Arrais, Sílvia Bernardino, Sandrine Cordeiro, Ana Sofia Elias, Mia Ervilha, Abílio Febra, Lorema, Maraia, Toni Palmeira, André Pereira, Cátia Ribeiro, Barbara Sbrocca, Cristina Vicente, Rute Violante and Paulo Kellerman.
The exhibition brought different artistic practices into the same occasion as the opening of the sculpture and three red benches. The installation remains at the museum as a place for visitors to sit, leave a message and encounter another person’s words.
The Leiria story continues
The permanent installation follows the 2024 workshop, the exhibition at Livraria Arquivo and the first public presentation of the Baci Sospesi flag. These are different forms of the same invitation to listen, recognise one another and act.
Plan a visit
The installation is at Museu Moinho do Papel, beside the River Lis. The museum’s address is Rua Fábrica do Papel, n.º 13, 2410-103 Leiria, Portugal.
The municipality publishes seasonal opening hours and visitor information for the museum. Check that page when planning your visit, and contact the museum for access arrangements or a group visit.