A co-production of CAM – Centro de Arte Moderna and Tinta-da-china, ‘Dicionário da Travessura’ [Dictionary of Mischief] is published on the occasion of the exhibition ‘The Occidental Calligrapher. Fernando Lemos and Japan’. This little book arose from an unrealised idea by Vinicius de Moraes for Fernando Lemos’ publishing house Giroflé.

Each entry in the dictionary is a phrase by Fernando Lemos, heard or read by Leonor Nazaré, co-curator of the exhibition and responsible for collating these quotes by the artist. Although it doesn’t include the artist’s published poetry, the phrases mirror his poetic spontaneity, as can be read in the postcards illustrated and written by the artist, reproduced throughout the publication.

Produced as part of the inauguration of CAM’s new building, this book is also a celebration of the future. Or, as Fernando Lemos describes the word ‘future’ in this dictionary: ‘The future doesn’t exist. It arrives early. There’s no point in looking for it.’