New Identity, Original Sardine Artwork, Concurso Sardinhas 2026

Created for Concurso Sardinhas 2026, Lisbon’s annual international art competition held during the Festas de Lisboa celebrations, New Identity is a one-of-a-kind original artwork.

The piece explores emigration, cultural identity and transformation.

The sardine represents a person carrying their memories, history and cultural roots while beginning a new life in another country.

A black-and-white checkered pattern symbolizes one identity, while blue circles on a black background represent another. Where they meet, the two patterns gradually merge into a completely new visual language different from the originals, yet created from both.

Details

•Materials: cotton + acrylic paints                                   •Size : 28 cm            
• Original artwork (one of a kind)
• Created for Concurso Sardinhas 2026
• Artist: MarliToyArt
• Year: 2026