Painter, designer, stained glass artist, poet, novelist, essayist, art critic, lecturer, and playwright, José Sobral de Almada Negreiros holds a significant place in the first wave of Portuguese modernists. A man with a passion for the arts, he produced illustrations for posters, magazines, and books alongside writing plays, essays, and novels.
An exhibition at the Rectory of the University of Lisbon, opening on the 28th and running until the 27th of October, features a small but representative sample of the university's diverse collection of documents that can be explored.
The exhibit comprises diverse document types from the Almada Negreiros documentary collection deposited at NOVA FCSH. These materials originate from the Almada Negreiros-Sarah Affonso Study and Documentation Centre (CEDANSA) and are readily available for study and consultation.
The event comprises a selection of items from the Almada library, namely manuscripts, important books and periodicals, in addition to books authored by the artist or with his covers, photographs, drawings intended for press publication, preparatory studies for public works, or press clippings kept in the artist's estate.
The event includes also a recital of poems and excerpts from the artist's interviews, showcasing his humorous and ironic ideas about art and the avant-garde. "Start" is the title of Almada Negreiros' final public work, a drawing panel etched at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in 1969, accompanied by readings by Rita Durão, Rita Loureiro, Sofia Marques, and Dinis Gomes. "Beginning" is a prominent term in Almada's work, conveying the idea of returning to square one, which was a core concept of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century. O. This word serves as the title for Almada's initial textual exploration, which forms part of the artist's collection kept by NOVA FCSH and was explored by the performers. "Beginning" is a prominent term in Almada's work, conveying the idea of returning to square one, which was a core concept of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century. Commencing marks the onset of the S. S. project. That Evening - Inspired by the creative work of Almada Negreiros from A Sul - Cultural and Artistic Association, in collaboration with IFILNOVA and CEDANSA.
PROGRAMME
9.30 h Opening
Clara Rowland – Pró-rector for Culture
Direção IHA, NOVA FCSH ( Joana Cunha Leal) e IELT, NOVA FCSH (Teresa Araújo)
Session 1
10h Fernando Cabral Martins (IELT, NOVA FCSH) – “The Almada-surrealism line"
Mariana Pinto dos Santos (IHA, NOVA FCSH) – “ Almada's some interviews”
11h debate
11.20 coffee break
Session 2
11.50h moderator Andrea Bianchini
Antonio Cardiello (IFILNOVA, FCSH) – “Philosophy of Myth and the Myth of Philosophy in Almada Negreiros”
Giorgia Casara (IHA, NOVA FCSH) – “The bok in Almada Negreiros”
Simão Palmeirim (IELT, NOVA FCSH) – “Almada and Le Corbusier: new documents”
13h debate
13.15h Lunch
Session 3
14.30h moderator Giorgia Casara
Andrea Bianchini (Universidade de Pisa) – How Almada worked: (L)A Tragedia (de la) da Unidad(e) or vice versa.
Sílvia Laureano Costa (IELT, NOVA FCSH) – “A woman is desired: from text to stage”
15.15h debate
Session 4
15.30h moderator Fernando Cabral Martins
Manuela Parreira da Silva (IELT, NOVA FCSH) – “The epigones of Almada.”
Marta Soares (IHA, NOVA FCSH) – “Almada presents Snow White: The singularity of Cartoons: Imagined Reality in the history of Animation”
16.20h debate
17hOpening of exhibition Almada Negreiros - 130 years. Exhibition at the Study and Documentation Centre Almada Negreiros-Sarah Affonso
COMEÇAR – Readings by Rita Durão, Rita Loureiro, Sofia Marques, and Dinis Gomes, followed by a conversation with. João Constâncio (Diretor IFILNOVA – FCSH). Moderation: Mariana Pinto dos Santos (CEDANSA, IHA NOVA FCSH)
Discover the full programme for the 50th-anniversary celebrations of NOVA University Lisbon here