REFLECTION UPON SPACE, PART I

LX LAPA - Lisboa, PT | 13.05.21 - 02.07.21

Ânia Pais, André Costa, Beatriz Coelho, Francisco Trêpa, Lucrezia Bracci, Maria Martins, Sebastião Cavaco, Tiago Rocha Costa

“Reflection Upon Space: Parts I & II” is a cycle of exhibitions divided into two parts showcasing the work of 16 emerging national and international artists. The first part of this cycle takes place in the new Lx Lapa space, in Lisbon, where a community of Jesuits previously lived for many years (formerly Broteria) and presents an exhibition format in an unusual space - an old library dating from 1955. In the past year, we have seen a large part of the cultural sector being transported to the virtual format, and for that very reason, we have stopped visiting exhibition spaces where we could previously relate with artworks. We look at this period of change as a reflection on the purpose of a physical exhibition space. The pieces here displayed invite us to revisit this space with a different perspective, through a variety of mediums, such as painting, sculpture, installation and photography. The set of artworks presented intends to explore the three-dimensionality within different artistic practices, which allows us an immediate awareness of the physical space that they occupy. The viewer is invited to relate not only to the three-dimensionality of the works, but also to the space in which they are inserted, in order to reflect on the influence that exists between the viewer / work / space.

These two rooms, where the magazine archive and a reading room were located, were essentially places for academic research. Today, we are presented with a set of works resulting also from a process of contemporary artistic research and practice, in a space to which they are not directly associated. The shelves that made up the old archive remain here on purpose to remind us that research, be it in academic or artistic format, is a fundamental step towards the realization of a consistent and continuous body of work. More than that, these artworks help us to consider unusual exhibition spaces, and to think beyond the aesthetics associated with the white cube. Our perception of the context of space and its physical elements conditions entirely our experience when relating to each artwork.

Through photography, artists challenge us to consider the limits of the two-dimensionality that characterizes printing on paper. Maria Martins expands photography with the way she captures moments and objects, creating a sense of involvement with the image. On the other hand, Sebastião Cavaco digitally models images created by himself that refer us to pre-existing objects, and referencing the instant photograph (which we know as polaroids) he creates his installations. Through the paintings proposed by André Costa and Beatriz Coelho, we can observe a body of work that exceeds the traditional limits of a canvas, but that still respects it, showing us that their artworks occupy more space than it appears when viewed from various perspectives. In the case of sculpture/installation, three-dimensional par excellence, artists such as Francisco Trêpa, Lucrezia Bracci, Ânia Pais and Tiago Rocha Costa also propose this type of experience, each with their very particular topics of investigation. We can roam around, explore, observe and enter the space their artworks create as well as observe them from various perspectives.

Carolina Pelletier Fontes & Delfina Sena, May 2021