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 September 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.
Discover the full programme for the 50th-anniversary celebrations of NOVA University Lisbon here
