Revista de História da Arte

Contributors

2024-09-29T23:33:42+00:00

Letter from Ernesta Thot - curatorial correspondence on esotericism, magic and alchemy in art

2024-09-29T23:25:02+00:00

The aim of this article is to introduce the figure of Ernesta Thot. She is the protagonist of a research and curatorial project that has been ongoing since 2020. It involves the successive construction and reconstruction of Ernesta Thot’s life, but also, through her character, an exploration of the relationship of modern and contemporary art to romantic, alchemical, esoteric and magical traditions. The project, whose protagonist is Ernesta Thot, is structured around ideas of art‑based research. It is also an attempt to answer the question of how to build and use fiction, imagination and confabulation, but one that draws on the reality around us, in the construction and telling of art history? To date, three projects have been published on the life of Ernesta Thot: a residual biography, a fable and a visual‑textual collage about the tarot. The article presented here, together with the accompanying film by artist Yana Maroz, is the next stage of this project. This time its aim is to encourage readers to establish a letter‑writing relationship with Ernesta Thot and to participate in the construction of a story about her.

If the video is not playing properly, please access it through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLvI3YuwxVg

Do nascimento ao abandono: as várias vidas do Palácio da Junqueira em Lisboa

2024-09-29T23:29:28+00:00

In this article we will cover the history of the Junqueira Palace, from its construction to the moment it was acquired by the Portuguese State. We will follow the way in which this building had different owners and occupants, resulting in the designations for what it is kown, Patriarch’s Palace and Burnay Palace. Each of the owners gave it their own taste, visible in the architecture, interior decoration, and garden design. We will begin with the construction of the building by order of D. José César de Meneses, knowing that, after 1755, it was rented by the Church, starting to function as the summer palace of the Patriarch of Lisbon. In 1853, it was acquired by Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, a slave trader known as «Monte Cristo». It was later in the possession of D. Sebastião de Bourbon (a member of the royal family), being acquired, in 1882, by the Count of Burnay — who was the owner who had the greatest impact on the building’s history. Finally, we will continue to the present day, remembering the urgency of defending, preserving, and giving new life to this building.

‘Gnawing at stone, feeding rainbows.’ Aquatic imagination and reparative reading of myths

2024-09-29T23:22:12+00:00

For Socrates, being possessed by the nymphs (‘nympholeptos’) meant a departure from conventionalised patterns of perceiving the world by increasing fluidity in its understanding. Although it may have seemed frightening for many people, it actually demanded gratitude for the elevation of the spirit and the heightened understanding, both wise and prophetic. Can a reparative reading of ancient beliefs and myths through aquatic imagination promote contemporary inclusive and empathetic thinking? An attempt to answer this question is made by referring to water ‘nymphs’ in the Polish art and literature of the 20th and 21st centuries: Harey from Stanisław Lem’s novel Solaris, Emma Goldman appearing as a buoy on KarolinaFreino’s startling Confluence statue on a watery floodplain in Kaunas, and girls — the protagonists of Anna Baumgart’s film Wanda — stunned and liberated by water. In each case, the element of water supports thinking in terms of emergence, potentiality, and reparative change.

Antes do Muro: a Pintura Assunção de Nossa Senhora – Dordio Gomes na Igreja de Nª Sª do Perpétuo Socorro (Porto, 1953)

2024-09-29T23:27:18+00:00

Dordio Gomes’ mural painting Assumption of Our Lady in the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was completed in 1953, showcasing reflections on the dogma and its proclamation. This article explores the commissioning of the mural, high‑ lighting its significance in developing mural painting in Porto in the mid‑20th century. The complex iconographic choices, technical aspects of the fresco, and the artist’s meticulous attention to detail in public spaces are also discussed. By examining preparatory drawings and other documents from the artist’s family archive, one can follow the creative process and modernist solutions aligned with the architecture. Changes to the church over time offer insights into the community’s perception of the site’s importance. Understanding this context is crucial for preserving and promoting heritage effectively.

Dare to imagine - an exercise in recapturing the Past of the East

2024-09-29T23:26:23+00:00

In the 1980s, author Milan Kundera challenged the notion that ‘Central Europe’ equates to ‘Eastern Europe’, arguing that such labels stem from political constructs. Larry Wolff’s Inventing Eastern Europe supports this, describing how Western Europeans viewed the East as backward. In this visual essay, I argue that the idea of ‘backward Eastern Europe’ persists still. The notion of an ‘inferior East’ distorts our view of historical periods such as those associated with the Polish People’s Republic. My research on Wrocław’s post‑war architecture brought unexpected revelations. For example, the modernist ZETO building revealed having advanced technology and high female employment, contradicting stereotypes of the ‘inferior East’. Inspired by the speculative fiction work of Amitav Ghosh and Ursula Le Guin, in this visual essay I employ imagination to re‑envision the past. This is achieved through an artistic exercise in which I merge photographs from my archival research on ZETO building with scenes from the popular TV series ‘Sex and the City’ to challenge ingrained perceptions and reveal hidden histories.