Panorama of the painting
Painting is often considered the poor relation of Portuguese culture. Wrongly so, because the economic boom of the 14th century was accompanied by Portugal's expansion beyond its borders. Painting was then sponsored by kings. The pictorial art reached its peak in the 15th century when churches were enriched with altarpieces. The Flemish model transmits the attention to detail and the use of oil painting. The most famous Portuguese painter, Nuno Gonçalves (1448-1481), imbued himself with both Flemish and Italian techniques. His masterpiece is undoubtedly the polyptych of São Vincente da Fora, six painted panels on wood recognized as the first group representation of European art.
The 16th century saw the emergence of a darker art, that of the Renaissance, which questioned the perception of the other. Portraits were added to religious scenes. Commissioned by notables, they encouraged painters to perfect their technique. The circulation of images in Europe saw the Flemish influence grow stronger. A Saint Peter painted in 1530 by Vasco Fernandes, known as Grão Vasco, shows a Nordic landscape in the background. Another characteristic of Portuguese painting, the discovery of Brazil marked the imagination of artists who lent Brazilian features to biblical characters, such as the Melchior from an Adoration of the Magi from 1503.The art of the azulejo
Appeared in Persia, the azulejos arrive in Portugal at the end of the fifteenth century. These tiles became in the seventeenth century a predominant mode of artistic expression. Their success is explained by their use in the building. Influenced by the Italian way, they become polychrome with the style "majolica". In the eighteenth century, in the middle of the Baroque period, azulejos composed real paintings of biblical, mythological or rural scenes. Faced with the increase in orders, the Portuguese called upon the Dutch whose techniques allowed them to produce more complex panels. Hand-painted and varnished, they now cover façades and interior walls. In Lagos, the Casa Verde is known for being covered, as its name indicates, only with green tiles.
Art galleries in Faro
Let's take the pulse of the contemporary scene by exploring the art galleries. Most of them are recent and bring together local and international artists. Faro is home to some surprising contemporary art galleries in its old alleys. Let's start this tour with the fascinating Galería do Arte Arco. Tucked away between the ramparts, it boasts a breathtaking view of the Ria Formosa. Inside, contemporary Portuguese art is combined with an amazing collection of century-old toys.
The Galería de Arte Trem is housed in former barracks that have been converted. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures, but also audio and video installations by renowned artists. In search of the avant-garde, it reflects the modern and innovative face of the Algarve. One could admire the Portuguese artist Mariana Madeira and her concept of mapping mixing performance, sculpture and sound to denounce disturbing truths about today's society.
The Artadentro association, based in Faro, wants to be representative of the whole Algarve, and even of Portugal. In the heart of the old town, the organisation has been disseminating contemporary art since 2003, with a particular focus on experimental and regional creation. Real talent scouts!
A pioneer of contemporary art galleries in Faro, Galería Nova Margem aims to be a space where contemporary art can flourish. It hosts a wide range of avant-garde experiments and individual and group exhibitions. A true local institution, the Galería de Arte Exstare can boast of the diversity of its programming. Conferences and meetings take place throughout the year. It has received the sculptor Christóvão Neto, born in 1976 and trained in London, Inês Ramos, born in 1973, a dancer, photographer and painter of naive frescoes, and Ricardo Lopes, an architect born in 1968, and his portraits of animals in the expressionist vein.Off course
Away from the maze of alleyways, the spacious Arc 16 Galería exhibits a selection of quality works at affordable prices: Mário Rodrigues, Gabriel Gutiérrez Vasquez, Luisa Nogueira or Teresa Dias Coelho.
In Albufera, the BAM workshop-gallery, founded by the artist Betty Ann Mörelius, lends its walls to creators from all over the world. In the village of São Lourenço near Almancil, the Centro Cultural combines art, music and literature in an enchanting setting. Opened in 1981, the place presents itself as a platform dedicated to both emerging and established artists. Visitors cross a succession of terraces and patios to admire unique paintings and sculptures, with the Algarve countryside as a backdrop. To combine art and wine tasting, head to the LiR (Lady In Red) Gallery on the outskirts of Lagos. This vast raw space, located in a wine cooperative, supports, among others, Laura Aires, a young Lagos painter, the photographer Alexandre Manuel or the sculptor Catarina Alves.Street art walk
Let's stay in Lagos for a street art trip. In the seaside resort surrounded by cliffs, the ARTURb project brings together recognized street artists to promote the local scene. At the gates of the city, a skeleton all in transparency exercises its talents of photographer on a three-story building. Aryz's work, titled Tempus Fugit, has been on display since 2014. Go deeper into the cobblestone streets of the center to flush out the frescoes executed under the impetus of L.A.C. The association invites artists in residence, organizes an annual festival and maintains a gallery. Further on, painted vultures mark the collective mural by Wes21 and Onur, in Rua Lançarote de Freitas. Across from the cultural center, Polish artist Bezt has depicted his famous female figures in the heart of the forest. Your steps will certainly lead you to the snails in love of Roa, the frog of Sainer and the sublime Borondo that marries the environment with disconcerting finesse. The Algarve has not finished amazing you!
