The city of Évora, in Portugal, renowned for its rich history and stunning architecture, became the stage for a unique exhibition at the Church of Saint Vincent in August 2024, and seen by over 8.000 visitors. The Luso-British artist Nelson Ferreira presented 'TETRALOGY: SCINTILLATIONS OF THE HEAVENLY CLOAK' – a profound reflection on art, time, and technique, exploring themes that spanned from Byzantine heritage to futuristic innovations questioning the isolation of the 21st century.
In the accompanying video (subtitled), Nelson Ferreira elaborates on the vision behind the exhibition and underscores the importance of technique (métier) in the artistic realm.
THE EXHIBITION
The showcase offered an aesthetic journey paying tribute to various historical periods:
Byzantine Icons: Created using medieval techniques from the 8th to the 13th century, these icons honoured the sacred character of the space while highlighting the spirituality and technical precision of the past.
PlatiGleam: A futuristic series featuring paintings that reacted to mobile phone light, symbolising the isolation and individualism characteristic of the 21st century.
Blue Series and Black Velvet Series: Works developed for the National Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Museum Soares dos Reis, in shades of blue and black, serving as metaphors for the cosmos and the mystery of existence.
A Reflection on Art and Technique (Métier)
In the video, Nelson Ferreira addresses crucial issues regarding the current state of art, emphasising the central role of technical mastery in the creative process. He critiques the contemporary tendency to disregard the legacy of the great masters and highlights how art has been reduced to mere self-expression or subservience to the written word.
For Ferreira, technique was much more than a tool; it was the key to innovation and the creation of exceptional works. His PlatiGleam paintings, for instance, demonstrated how mastery of the materials could unlock new possibilities and challenge established conventions.
An Invitation to Contemplation
The exhibition invited the audience to rediscover the art of observation. At a time when museum visitors spend, on average, only three seconds per artwork, Ferreira challenged us to look deeper, explore the subtlety of images, and reflect on what they reveal about our culture and time.
Conclusion
The exhibition at the Church of São Vicente was a celebration of the past, a questioning of the present, and an invitation to envision the future. It was a unique experience that intertwined history, métier, and creativity in a timeless dialogue.
Curated by Rui Diogo Castela.
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