ECHOES on the Wall

The ECHOES project consists of a cycle of solo exhibitions that bring together young Portuguese artists who are working and living outside their country of origin. Most of these artists have shown their work in exhibitions abroad, where they are gaining increasing recognition, but this has hardly been reflected within Portugal. Although most of them actively seek to promote their work in their native country through regular shows, they are generally little known and have ended up establishing closer contacts with major international art centres.

Over almost a year, the MNAC will hold a series of solo shows on the main wall of the museum’s hall. In this area, visitors encounter recent or previously unseen works by artists from the Portuguese cultural diaspora, reflecting new forms of expression in contemporary artistic creation. Lusophone artists, who have settled in countries with sizeable Portuguese communities or growing numbers of Portuguese expats, across the five continents that have been the main destinations for migrants, were invited to take part. Value was attributed to different cultural perspectives, a pluralistic vision and distinct artistic practices.

As art is adept at tackling political, economic and social issues, among other matters, these “echoes” also seek to stimulate reflection on pertinent present-day issues: the resurgence of large-scale emigration, social crossovers and cultural hybrids, different models and parameters for integration and citizenship, dichotomies of identity and the emergence of a new emotional geography. This initiative aims to build a bridge between the upcoming generations of Portuguese artists, who work outside the national context, and the MNAC, as a space of excellence for contemporary art. A place of access to new work that encourages a fresh insight into reality.

Adelaide Ginga

Curator at MNAC-MC