Porta Entreaberta Exposition
5 artists coming together in a unique gallery exhibition in the Ajuda neighborhood of Lisbon.
Francisca Valador envisioned an all women exhibition close to home, so transformed her living space into an intimate gallery. The original idea was to hold the exposition during the last month of her apartment lease. Porta Entreaberta exposition would be her grand exit.
She invited 4 other artists: Inês Brites, Lêyla Gediz, Sara Graça, and Sara Mealha. The general theme is the use of paper. “I wanted to use paper as a theme, because it is delicate but strong,” Francisca explained.
The exhibition opened Friday, September 29th and will be open until Friday, October 20th 2023.
With her apartment door appropriately ajar, I entered the hallway found a wonderful display of paintings, mixed media, sculpture, photography, and textile works.
Francisca had indeed transformed her apartment. Other than her bed that displayed Sara Graça’s textile work, “Pano Roxa,” there was no trace of her previous personal space.
However, Francisca had not moved out, but instead had moved her belongings into storage for the duration of this exhibit.
She has gone above and beyond for art’s sake. For those who are wondering, her dog Goya made an appearance at the opening is very thankful that they are staying with relatives, while their apartment is under this art take-over.
Now for the artwork experience:
Inês Brites has two subtly powerful sculpture displays that shift the perspective on how we view ordinary objects by giving them new spaces. They recalled the image from William Carlos Williams’ poem of the wheelbarrow. It’s their purpose that gives them their power as symbols for our life experiences.
Lêyla Gediz greeted me with her art in the kitchen with a wall display of paper doilies that at once spoke to the delicate strength of paper. In the next room, her oil painting “Neareastern” continues the theme of strength and resilience.
Sara Graça has a textile piece, “Pano Roxo” that compliments Inês’ “Um cálculo delicado” and Fransisca’s “Três Amores” both in the lightness and spirit of what home means to each of us. Her second piece, “Isa vou-me embora,” a work on vinyl that symbolically captures a person inhabiting this unique gallery space.
Sara Mealha shows two thought provoking pieces for the exposition. Her painting of four expressions of a lower-case “i” caused me to think not only the person Sara Graça created to inhabit the space but also the eyes of the people inhabiting the exhibition and how we internalize the art we consume. Her second piece, “Cama,” sits on a pedestal that would be a dangerous endeavor for anyone sleeping, which I found satisfyingly ironic.
Finally, Francisca Valador’s work, as the host and creator of this exposition, she also has three wonderful pieces. In the bedroom, she has the three flowers, “Três amores,” that in her words can have “good or bad” connotations. The placement of the delicate pedals in the painting, we can see that there is a case for being hidden, obscured, or pushed-aside.
Her other two works in the front rooms are her paper creations showing the depth and subtlety of her technique. They are both playful but also capture a significant amount of darkness and shadow. I find this an interesting concept both visually and emotionally, as I saw it as a balance of how we navigate through this unique space.
Port Entreaberta Exposition is open to see until October 20th 2023
Follow the artists on Instagram:
Francisca Valador @francisca.valador
Sara Melha @saramealha
Sara Graça @saragraca123
Lêyla Gediz @leylagetiz
Inês Brites @flutuo
