Art(e)facts Biennial brings together artists and artisans in residences in rural villages
The Art(e)facts Biennial, which integrates the area of Architecture and Territory of Guarda 2027 – Candidate Region for European Capital of Culture, continues the program of its inaugural edition with six residences for the creation of artistic projects, which bring together artists and artisans in Alcongosta, Janeiro de Cima, Roof, Famalicão da Serra, Fundão and Gonçalo.
The Bienal do Conhecimento aims to encourage collaborations between artists and artisans and constitute a contemporary heritage of artistic works that privilege the valorization of the territory and the reinterpretation of the traditional knowledge of Beira Interior territories. “Supernatural Togetherness” is the theme of the first edition of Art(e)facts and proposes to create alliances between species and generations to save the future.
The Art(e)facts program is ongoing until September 2021 and includes artistic residencies, a collective exhibition extended to different parts of the territory, and an online Forum of Ideas. The activities of the Bienal began in February, with the launch of an international Open Call for the presentation of projects proposed by artists, architects and designers, and produced in residence, with the collaboration of local artisans who work with ancient techniques of basketry, weaving, and pottery.
By the end of May, six residences are underway in six locations in the municipalities of Fundão and Guarda, which will result in the creation of six unprecedented artistic projects. Four of these projects were Open Call winners and their authors join the artist Fernanda Fragateiro and the Colectivo Warehouse, invited for this edition by the organization, to develop artistic practices and establish a network between art and crafts linked to local ecosystems.
Following the high number and degree of quality of the 110 proposals submitted to the competition, 69 of which were from foreign candidates and collectives and 33 from Portuguese, the jury – composed of Pedro Gadanho, executive director of Candidatura Guarda 2027, Andreia Garcia, programmer in the area of Architecture and Territory of Candidatura Guarda 2027 and curator of Bienal Art(e)facts 2021, Miguel Rainha of the Municipality of Fundão and production director of Bienal Art(e)facts 2021, and by curators Miguel von Hafe Pérez and Carlos Fernandes -, decided to select four proposals, as opposed to the two initially envisaged.