Where nature and art meet in the Algarve

Driving through the remote roads, surrounded by nature, on the way from Monchique to Aljezur, while taking in the stunning views, you will come across a sign reading “Spirit of Wood” Gallery. I recommend taking a little break here and visiting the unique wooden pieces created by José Maurício. You can see a small exhibition outside, but José, who lives in a house just next to the gallery, will gladly give you a tour.

Preserving Wood in Unconventional Ways

José began working with wood more than 30 years ago and is completely self-taught. Over the years, he has developed new, authentic, and unusual methods for preserving wood, and today he has three favourite methods. Passionate about his work, he showed tanks filled with water, where he sometimes preserves wood for up to 15 years, often in saltwater rather than freshwater.

Another way to preserve wood before he starts working, is to bury it in the ground for five years. The last method is to keep the wood well sealed inside a container with fungus. José believes these processes help preserve the wood's natural colour and eliminate bacteria.

He uses several different tools and often cuts the wood to its core, carving out various shapes. This is his way of showing the wood's inner side and its colour differences. “I work with many different types of wood, but among my favourites are Erica arborea, Pistacia lentiscus, and olive,” he says. The bushy tree likes calcareous soil, and its colour is determined by salt content. After years of experience, José is an expert in this “The salt content varies, depending on the region. In the Portimão area, wood tends to be lighter in colour. Around Aljezur, the salt content is higher, and the wood is darker, almost black. Around Lagos, it is less dark and has red tones.”

Opening the Gallery

For many years, José kept his creations at home, but after receiving support from family and friends, he opened his own gallery sixteen years ago. This gave people the opportunity not only to see his work but also to buy his creations. His price list is based mostly on the hours he spends working on each sculpture.

His art is ecological and sustainable, as he doesn’t cut trees and works mostly with roots he finds in the forest. “I’m 63 and don’t work as much as before. Now I usually have one day off, so the best way to make sure you can visit the gallery is to call me in advance,” he says. “For many years, I worked every day. Working with wood is only my hobby, though — my main job was always selling succulents.”

José doesn’t have children, so he has no one to pass his legacy to. As he says, he doesn’t know if he can teach his craft, since everything is in his head and he learned it through years of trial and error.

All his sculptures are abstract; there is only one that symbolises his zodiac sign — Pisces. Still, many people find something specific in his work, as his pieces are open to interpretation. In the gallery, you can find sculptures of many sizes and shapes, from very small pieces to large works. He doesn’t usually create custom-made pieces, even though he has received offers from hotels. He prefers to follow his imagination and work only when he feels inspired. Behind each creation are many days, or even weeks, of work, but he enjoys working with nature.

A Life in Monchique

As José says, his favourite place in the Algarve is Casais — the closest village to his house — though he also loves the ocean. He is originally from Monchique, and although he has spent his entire life here, he has made many international friends through his gallery.

“I don’t use the internet much, and I don’t have social media,” he says. “I still rely on word of mouth. I was also featured in The Portugal News, which brought me a lot of new clients.” At the end of the visit, you can sign the guest book, filled with short messages written by people from all over the world, in many different languages.

Planning Your Visit

If you wish to make your own visit and chat with José, you can find the location by typing 'WoodSpirit Gallery' into Google Maps. You can also contact José directly by phone at (+351) 919 697 264 to make sure he is available.