EXHIBITION

Recalibration

Frame Colectivo

Opening: january 16, 18h30

"Recalibragem" is a visual device originally commissioned for the exhibition “Emancipação do Vivente” at the Municipal Galleries of Lisbon. It stems from a series of urban research works centered on perceptions of the European territory. Frame Colectivo gathered imagery reflecting narratives of Eurocentric and nationalist supremacy, documenting both urban and rural trajectories. The installation, curated by the Museum for the Displaced, comprises two videos and a textual mural crafted from clay letters by Jéssica Bruno. It constructs a poetic landscape that weaves together words, memory, and collective responsibility in shaping the European urban and rural future.

The piece “Recalibragem” emerges from the pressing need to reimagine identity perceptions and urban practices. The captured images, deliberately lensless and inverted, challenge viewers to confront and complete the European landscape, disrupting familiar imagery and provoking critical reflection. This inversion not only deconstructs dominant visual narratives but also invites an active re-engagement with the concepts of space and identity.

Frame Colectivo, an architecture studio based in Lisbon, specializes in the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and art, employing interdisciplinary collaborations to explore new methodologies. Since 2013, they have focused on urban research in public and semi-public spaces, creating contextually grounded collective projects. Their interventions are designed to challenge prevailing urban micropolitics and foster citizen participation, underscoring the studio's commitment to redefining spatial and societal norms through innovative, participatory approaches.

On display until February 28, the exhibition can be visited from Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or at alternative times by appointment.

Organization: INSTITUTO, paulo moreira architectures, Frame Colectivo

Support: Direção-Geral das Artes, Kulturfabrik

We are thrilled to welcome South African architect Sechaba Maape in Porto. During his residency at INSTITUTO, Sechaba will be designing the new trophy for the Arquiteturas Film Festival, in close collaboration with ArtWorks. He will present his practice and research in two public talks:

Lisbon: Hangar, 17 January 2025, 18h30

Porto: INSTITUTO, 25 January 2025, 18h30

At the core of the talks is the new trophy design, shaped by the principles of hyper-essentialism - an approach that amplifies cultural elements to create bold, impactful works. The trophy serves as both a tribute to and a critique of Pancho Guedes, a visionary modernist architect whose work blended African motifs with European influences. This design reflects the layered history of African architecture, where cultural inspiration and appropriation have often coexisted.

The talks will also explore how contemporary creatives like architect Peter Rich, who draws from African vernacular traditions, and fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo, who redefines “Africanness” through his knitwear, are reimagining identity in art and design today. Connecting these examples to his own work, Sechaba will discuss how hyper-essentialism can reclaim African identity in design while confronting the complex legacies of colonial influence.

Join us if you are in Porto or Lisbon!