…dquele que é (des)objeto II

“…dquele que é (des)objeto II,” held at the Fundação Leal Rios in Lisbon (September 27, 2024 – February 22, 2025), offers an in-depth exploration of the concept of the object in contemporary art. Under the curatorial direction of Miguel Leal Rios, visitors are invited to engage with works by 21 artists, each examining the boundaries and essence of objects through deconstructed and transformed forms.

The central theme of the exhibition is the relationship between an object, its form, and its meaning. Inspired by Jacques Derrida's theories of deconstruction and Michael Fried's ideas on objecthood, the pieces challenge conventional understandings of objects, highlighting their ambivalence between weight and lightness, two- and three-dimensionality, and tactile human interaction. The exhibition focuses on objects that encourage reflection on their inner life and the new identities revealed through artistic transformation.

Magna Mutatio / Narrationem

Artemis Gallery / Lisbon / Portugal

Technique / video, 4K, 8:30 min

Magna Mutacio is the title of a series of works that explore the transformation of a selected territory over time, specifically the transformation of cities, landscapes, bodies of water and glacial formations. European Space Agency satellite data are used for this analysis. The transformation of the territory is mapped, which, given its size and the long period of observation, could not be perceived from the viewer's perspective. The work thus offers a macro view of the subject.

"The name of the concept Magna Mutatio is reflected in a series of artworks whose main theme is the observation of the transformation of a place in the long term. To this end, Magna Mutatio uses a generative algorithm to depict the transformation of waterways, landscapes and cities over time. For this analysis, Magna Mutatio uses satellite data mapping the relevant areas. Datasets provided by the ESA space agency reveal the landscape in both the radar and infrared spectrum. This allows Magna Mutatio to map in detail the transformations of a given place over time and then present it in the form of generative images, 3D printed objects and light installations. These visually guide the viewer and show them the story of the place Magna Mutatio is exploring. The mass of the earth becomes the medium that Magna Mutatio mixes with the data stream. Through this new perspective, the work communicates its language of generative prediction and algorithmic visualization of a reality that is constantly changing - just like the world around us.

In this series of works by Magna Mutatio, the viewer can follow the transformation of the water of the Tajo River flowing through Lisbon over a period of six years. By observing the different ways in which the water behaves over time, Magna Mutatio reveals its form, showing the moments of transformation of both water and land and places, the different shapes of the bodies of water, the movement of the water and the appearance of the landscape, which are all part of the story and which the artist uses this video to tell.

Magna Mutatio creates generative works that work on multiple levels. They tell the story of the territory they represent, the history of the place, its changes and evolution over time. In these works, Magna Mutatio also engages in a dialogue between art and science. Science is the language of nature, a language that Magna Mutatio is able to interpret and communicate through the language of generative algorithms. Art is the language of culture, a language that Magna Mutatio can interpret and communicate through the artwork.

The generative work Magna Mutatio creates a dialogue between science and art, telling the stories of the places it visits, of nature and of the people living in the place. The data from the places it presents is information about the world. Its task is to convey stories through artistic language. Space, place and time are the three levels of these stories.

Magna Mutatio

Within the exhibition "Mechanics of Reality: Interplay between Art and Technology," we encounter works from the Magna Mutatio collection, which meticulously examine the transformation of selected territories over time. The fusion of art and technology here is key to understanding how our environment constantly evolves and changes. Utilizing satellite data and algorithmic processes, these works capture the changes in cities, landscapes, and water bodies, offering us a macroscopic view of the dynamics of our planet.

In the Artemis Gallery exhibition space, translucent panels, generative graphics, and 3D printed objects are presented, depicting changes in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. This visualization of transformations in greenery, urban development, and water quality in the Tagus River mesmerized spectators, who witnessed six years of Lisbon's transformation in a single moment.

The Magna Mutatio works utilize datasets from the European Space Agency and the Copernicus program, which focuses on remote Earth observation. Thanks to satellite imagery and specialized algorithms, these changes are recorded and presented to viewers as artistic creations that simultaneously reflect the reality and dynamics of our planet.

In conjunction with the aforementioned collection of Magna Mutatio works, the "Mechanics of Reality" exhibition introduces us to artists who work with technology and art as a research field. Armin Keplinger, Diogo Gonçalves, Error-43, Ida Kvetny, Krystof Bruha, and Studio Above & Below show us through their works how closely intertwined art and science are in today's world.

In this exhibition, we encounter art that uses technology to open our eyes to predictable patterns of behavior in the world. Thanks to AR and VR technologies, the invisible becomes visible, and the environment gains a voice to express its essence. This exhibition is a place where nature, machines, and people converge, and where art and technology together explore the mechanisms of reality.