11 MARCH-21 MAY: CARPE DIEM ARTE E PESQUISA, LISBON

Carpe Diem Arte e Pesquisa presented the inauguration of its first programme of 2011 exhibitions on the 11^th March, in Bairro Alto, supported by Pampero® rum through the Pampero Foundation which aims to help and support exhibitions and artists. The premier programme for this year starts today, 12th March, and includes artwork and installations from the following artists.

‘Lecture/Audience/Camera’ by Wendelien Van Oldenborgh – a 30 minute film during which there will be a series of 3 open lectures to the public where the lecturer becomes the protagonist and the audience become part of the cast. With a title that refers directly to the work of Dan Graham, ‘Performer/Audience/Mirror’, the film by Wendelien Van Oldenborgh pays homage to the crossed relationships that are discovered through a production in public situations such as a performance or lecture.

‘Corredor com abertura zenital para capela’ by Ramiro Guerreiro – a site-specific installation which interacts with the vertical space of the chapel of Palácio Pombal. The visitor is presented with what seems like a corridor with walls floor and ceiling made from plywood and a tight, dark interior space which is to be crossed as the visitor knows that half way through there is an opening in the ceiling which provides a view of the vertical space of the chapel. At this moment there is also audible sounds which vibrate from behind the plywood and enter through the opening of the ceiling, emphasizing the uniqueness of this very particular place in Palácio Pombal.

‘Os jardins de Lisboa’ by Gabriela Machado – large canvas painting which explores the famous Jardins Botanicos (botanic gardens) of Lisbon, with a new perception of “warm light” from european winter, representing the distinct species of plants that are accustomed to it. Machado uses large canvases to represent the entirety of the space that is being portrayed through drawing.

‘Nós que aqui estamos por vós esperamos’ and ‘Foi assim que me ensinaram’ by Flavio Cerqueira – two works of art created especially for Palcio Pombal. The first is an installation based on the gardens of the Palacio, the artist is questioning the position of contemporary art and its relationship with history referencing the names of famous creators of the past who have mobilized world audiences. The second is a sculpture that occupies the ground floor of the building. The piece aims to criticise bad teaching in art schools, suggesting they badly prepare artists with little knowledge of history or theory of art.

‘The best of all possible world’ by German collective; Bettina Lockemann, Claudia Fischer, Ellen Bornkessel, Jana Seehusen, Jens Lüstraeten, Ruth Hommelsheim, Sabine Schründer, Susanne Huth, Ulrike Ludwig, Uta Neumann and Werner Huthmacher – photography and video installation based on the philosophy of German mathemetician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz who caused much discussion and controversy during his time. This part of the exhibition will occupy the cellar of Palacio Pombal and will critically review the idea of an idealized world…

On Saturday 12^th March there will also be a conference entitled, ‘Onde está a Arte Contemporânea’ (Where is Contemporary Art?), with Hans Belting and Andrea Buddensieg, historians and curators from the project Global Art and the Museum. They will discuss the new stature of art and museums of contemporary art within the “globalized world” and introduce museums as sites of challenged cultural production where representation of local, national or popular culture can easily become a question of politics and control.

The exhibition runs between 12^th March and 21^st May, Wednesday to Saturday 2-9pm.

www.carpediemartepesquisa.com

By Lucy Mclean