“Scenes from Lisbon” highlighted at the Casino Estoril Art Gallery

The exhibition “Cenas de Lisboa”, by the Brazilian artist Maramgoní, is on show at the Casino Estoril Art Gallery. Admission is free, not to be missed, until 31 January.

The artist Maramgoní, walks around Lisbon with a keen eye and expertise, in his first solo exhibition in the capital. With over 30 years of career, the artist expresses an urban and at the same time vigorous vision of Lisbon, through 24 works, in which he portrays some of the most emblematic neighbourhoods, such as Alfama or Bairro Alto, Baixa Pombalina, Castelo de São Jorge, the Tagus and some scenes from the daily life of Alfacinha. In search of a new artistic reading, based on new aesthetic questions that are reflected in an exquisite drawing, the artist reveals a vast pictorial knowledge and procedure based on philosophical architecture.

Artist by nature

Maramgoní was born in São Paulo, in 1972, having been interested in drawing since childhood and showing great skill with shapes and proportions. At just 10 years of age, he sets the guidelines for his artistic destiny: painting. After a few years as a self-taught person, in 1987, he opened his own atelier, where he also taught. In 2005, he delves into contemporary art. Indifferent to fads, his work remains authentic and his techniques and colours reveal his genuine gift and love for art. In September 2018, Maramgoní moved to Lagos, Portugal.

Maramgoni interview

In a brief interview, Maramgoni analyzed different themes such as, for example, the evolution of his artistic career, the exhibition “Cenas de Lisboa” that is on display at the Casino Estoril Art Gallery and what made him leave, just over two years ago, Brazil to reside in Portugal.

Who is Maramgoní?
I am from São Paulo, I was born in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo, in 1972. I have more than 30 years of career in the arts, I am dyslexic and I can say that art defines me, our relationship is visceral.

How was the beginning of your journey in the plastic arts universe?
I’ve been drawing and painting since I’ve known myself. My parents were my biggest supporters. I’m dyslexic and learning at school for me has always been a wonder, art was fundamental and liberating, I can say that it saved me. I started by painting the walls of my room, at 9 I was already painting canvas and by 15 I had my own studio, where I painted and taught. I was born an artist.

Which artists influenced you?
My background is 1000% academic, I am self-taught, and everything I learned was studying the concepts and techniques of the canons of academicism, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Renoir, Michelangelo, Bosch, Rubens, Bruegel, Klimt, I painted in oil by many, many years, until, around 2007, I dedicated myself to studying, also in a self-taught way, the possibilities of how to use contemporary techniques and materials, mixing with what I knew about academicism. And today, I practically use only acrylic paint.

What brings you to Portugal?
I moved to Portugal with my family two years ago, with the intention of raising my son Matteo, who was 3 years old at the time, in a “no violence” place and taking the opportunity to expand my horizons artistically, we were here for 5 months and confined because of the Covid-19 Pandemic. It was crazy. When that happened, I had already started the preparation for this exhibition with Pedro Lima Carvalho, Director of the Casino Estoril Art Gallery. With the confinement, we had to postpone it, which in the end turned out to be very favourable for the creation of this exhibition and yielded these very special works about Lisbon, which I lovingly call “Minha Linda”, all produced during the confinement. I hope you like it, I dedicated myself a lot to portraying all the splendour of Lisbon.

Why “Cenas de Lisboa”?
I thought of scenes because it is a word often used by the Portuguese to describe everyday events, in addition to having to do with scenes from a movie, a moment or an immortalized place. I looked for images that somehow told a little of what happens in different places in the city. I looked for a unique look for each moment.

What would you say to the audience?
I would like to invite everyone to visit my first solo exhibition in Lisbon, which will be on display until January 31, at the Casino Estoril Art Gallery, and to say that it will be a pleasure to welcome you to share with you my art, which I created in such a way special for all of you. Thank you very much!

The Casino Estoril Art Gallery hosts the exhibition “Cenas de Lisboa”, by the Brazilian artist Maramgoní. Admission is free, not to be missed, until January 31, 2022.

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