A Dinner among Artworks: the Mezzanine as a Space for Dialogue
Some exhibitions bring artworks together. Others build connections. At the Mezzanine, Rosa Barba seems primarily interested in the latter.
Works from the CAM Collection
The CAM Collection brings together almost 12 000 works of modern and contemporary art. Discover the collection’s most recent acquisitions and donations, the unknown stories, the behind-the-scenes work and restorations, or the narratives hidden on the reverse sides of the works.
‘Desenho Habitado’, by Helena Almeida
'Desenho Habitado' [Inhabited Drawing], by Helena Almeida, comes at a time when the artist is beginning to assert the body as a workplace. Rosa Barba selected this work from the CAM Collection to be included in her exhibition 'Drawing Vocabularies'.
Sara Bichão: ‘It’s there to communicate, and its gaze is directed at the viewer.’
In this interview, conducted by curator Francisca Portugal, artist Sara Bichão explains the process behind her work ‘Longínquo (dur)’, commissioned by CAM, included in the exhibition ‘Scheherazade: the Never-ending Collection of CAM’, and now part of the CAM Collection.
Eduardo Batarda: ‘Nothing within them presents itself as the thing itself.’
In this article, curator Francisca Portugal offers a reflection on the work of Eduardo Batarda, presenting some of the central themes and discourses in his practice, taking as a starting point the paintings recently acquired for the CAM Collection and now available to the public in the Open Storage.
Colouring the grey inventing lives and staging ends: work by Teresa Magalhães
Curator Mattia Tosti reflects on the work ‘Untitled’ (1970–2012), by Teresa Magalhães, present at the exhibition 'Scheherazade, the Never-ending Collection of CAM'. Starting from an almost immersive approach to this work, Mattia explores the potential influence of the artist’s time at Lisbon's School of Fine Arts, during the dictatorship, on her creations.
‘An open suitcase,’ by Johanna Carter
Johanna Carter, a young Art History student, reflects on the work ‘Do Nordeste a Coimbra’ [From the Northeast to Coimbra] by Túlia Saldanha, part of the exhibition of 'a selection of works from the collection by leonor antunes' Amid chaos and a possible harmony, she explores the female imagination and the artist’s openness to different interpretations.
‘Maria’ and ‘Delmina’, by Graça Morais
CAM has acquired two new works by the painter Graça Morais for its collection. In a reflection on ‘Maria’ and ‘Delmina,’ researcher Laurinda Branquinho examines the central role of women in the artist’s work, exploring its connection to issues of gender, territory, and memory.
Hamadryads, or the wind that speaks to the trees
CAM has acquired three new works by the artist Ilda David' for its Collection. Marta Espiridião, curator and researcher, reflects on how these pieces interweave nature, memory and myth.
Yonamine’s living sanctuary: ‘The only thing that moves me to make these pieces is called love.’
After chatting to Yonamine, curator Francisca Portugal reflects in this article on the main themes, techniques and vocabulary present in the artist’s work, introducing pieces that were acquired recently for the CAM Collection.
When Writing Is Not Enough: the Drawings of Maria Isabel Barreno
Maria Isabel Barreno, co-author of 'New Portuguese Letters', was selected by Leonor Antunes, who chose her work 'Limpo' [Clean] from the CAM Collection, for inclusion in the exhibition 'a selection of works from the collection by leonor antunes’. The researcher Laurinda Branquinho reflects on how Barreno perceived language in a profoundly visual way.
‘Khtobtogone’, by Sara Sadik
The CAM curator Rita Fabiana presents the piece Khtobtogone by Sara Sadik, one of the CAM Collection’s recent acquisitions, reflecting on the presence of the youth culture of the Maghrebi diaspora in France in the artist’s work.
‘Brincar com canoas e afogar cães’, by Diogo Nogueira
Curator and researcher Marta Espiridão presents one of the most recent works in the CAM Collection, 'Brincar com canoas e afogar cães' [Play with canoes and drown dogs] (2023), by artist Diogo Nogueira, reflecting on the many stories the work tells us.
‘Reading and Counter-reading of a Window Object,’ by Irene Buarque
Curator Francisca Portugal interviews the artist Irene Buarque about the recent acquisition of the work ‘Leitura e Contraleitura de uma Janela Objeto’ [Reading and Counter-reading of a Window Object] (1978) for the CAM Collection.
‘Interior #2’, by Patrícia Garrido
The work ‘Interior #2’, by Patrícia Garrido, is one of the recent acquisitions for the CAM Collection. In this article, curator and researcher Marta Espiridião reflects on the relationship between body and space, home and memory, in the artist's work.
‘The aesthetics of song: the transfiguration of Saint Cecilia,’ by Isabel Carvalho Laurinda Branquinho
The artist Isabel Carvalho joins the CAM Collection with a textile piece that evokes the figure of Saint Cecilia. Laurinda Branquinho highlights this work presented in the exhibition 'Leonor Antunes. the constant inequality of leonor’s days*'.
Gabriel Abrantes: ‘’Bardo Loops’ is the most personal work I’ve ever done.’
In this mini-documentary, Gabriel Abrantes talks about the process of creating ‘Bardo Loops’, a four-film installation from the Portuguese artist commissioned by CAM.
Manuel Botelho and the series ‘Confidencial/Desclassificado’
In 2024, CAM acquired 21 photographs from the 'Confidencial/Desclassificado' series by the artist Manuel Botelho. Two photographs from this series were presented for the first time in the exhibition 'Tide Line. CAM Collection'.
Conservation and restoration of Costa Pinheiro’s work ‘Citymobil’
The work ‘Citymobil’, acquired by CAM in December 2021, was recently restored by conservator-restorer Elizabeth Martins. Costa Pinheiro's futuristic city can be seen in the exhibition ‘Tide Line. CAM Collection’.
‘Mobília em 30 cm’ by Patrícia Garrido in the CAM collection
The artist's new work, acquired by CAM in 2021, is part of a series of inhabited interiors. It was on display in 2023 in the "Histories of a Collection" exhibition.
Donation of works by Espiga Pinto
In 2020, CAM – Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian received an important donation of more than 50 works by the artist Espiga Pinto, made between the 1960s and the 1980s.
Three sculptures by Belén Uriel
In the summer of 2022, CAM acquired three sculptures by Belén Uriel, marking the first representation of this artist in its collection.
New work by Lisa Santos Silva in the CAM Collection
CAM welcomes another work by the artist Lisa Santos Silva, donated to the Collection in 2022.
Maria Capelo in the CAM Collection
At the end of 2021, CAM acquired two works by the artist Maria Capelo for its collection.
New works by Paulo Nozolino
In 2022, the CAM acquired for its Collection two fundamental works by Paulo Nozolino.