Now boarding at Galeria Augustine, Lisbon, Portugal
First, there was Brexit, then the pandemic and ‘party gate’, swiftly followed by the war in Ukraine leading to the cost-of-living crisis. There have been rail strikes and droughts, whilst the government squabbled over the leadership. So, no surprise and despite delays and costs, we want to get the hell out of the UK and travel again.
‘Carry-on Baggage’ is a cheeky showcase of contemporary British artists in Lisbon, in a mini and easily transportable form – A fun and simple concept. Artists are invited to participate individually or as a group. The invited artist(s) need to book a return flight to Lisbon and pack a small piece of artwork into their carry-on baggage (wheelie cabin bag).
Invited and participating artists will have to cover their own flights and accommodation. Galeria Augustine can get the artists (and their partners) a 12.5% discount at the smart and stylish hotel – Hotel Pessoa in Chiado. Artists who are represented by galleries can participate with the consent and by courtesy of their galleries (no commission on sales will be paid to galleries, but galleries will be tagged and mentioned in publicity and posts).
Artists can submit any artwork of their choosing and if selected the artwork will be curated into a salon hang.
Some of the themes that the show wishes to explore, is the emotional baggage that we as human beings carry around with us. How light or heavy is that within the whole concept of ‘traveling light’? Which is more important, the journey or the destination?
‘Carry-on Baggage’ is also a look at the pace of modern life, the process and effects of transportation, for both business and pleasure in this post-COVID era. The social impact of mass tourism on historic European cities, such as Lisbon. Then of course there are the environmental global implications of air travel to consider. At what price is our collective desire to explore, document, and share? As Europe rages under a heatwave, battling fires with unheard-of temperatures even for the UK, we must ask ourselves serious questions about the future of fossil fuels.
In addition to ‘Carry-On Baggage’ there will be complementary exhibition in the downstairs gallery:
‘New Discoveries’ – Young Portuguese Artists
‘New Discoveries’ is a capsule exhibition in the downstairs gallery space at Galeria Augustine, featuring emerging Portuguese artists, that will complement and create a dialogue with British artists exhibiting upstairs as part of the ‘Carry-On Baggage’ exhibition.
The title refers to the ‘Age of Discoveries’ (Era dos Descobrimentos), in the 15thand 16th centuries, when Portugal explored and colonized parts of Africa, the Americas, Middle and Far East. During this period Portugal became one of the wealthiest countries in the world, a position of global power only ended by the 1775 Lisbon earthquake disaster.
‘New Discoveries’ showcases fresh Portuguese talent in a European city, Lisbon, until relatively recently dwarfed culturally by capitals such as London and Paris that had spearheaded the great Modernist movements of the early 20thcentury. From 1933 to 1974, Portugal lived under Salazar’s Estado Novo dictatorship. Artists, writers and intellectuals were viewed with suspicion at best, with culture censured by the state. On April 25, 1974, the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon peacefully put an end to the regime.
‘New Discoveries’ explores the state of contemporary art in Portugal, only in recent decades allowed to flourish, and looks at next generation artists, expressing today’s attitudes and concerns, and picking up the baton of contemporary Portuguese painting, in the footsteps of the late, great Anglophile, Paula Rego.
How to submit your artwork
All artists who wish to participate need to send in before Thursday 6th October an image of the artwork, CV, and biographical material via email to ba@galeria-augustine.com
Artwork can be sent or delivered. There will be a drop off/collection point in London.
Closing date for artist’s submission – Thursday 6th October
Galeria Augustine, Rua Leite de Vasconcelos 3A 1170-197, Lisbon, Portugal.
www.galeria-augustine.com
Carry on Baggage Flight departure: 27th October 19.00- 00.00
For online reservations and information: Maria Caixas: mc@galeria-augustine.com
Submitting artists: Ben Austin: ba@galeria-augustine.com
If the artwork is not sold over an agreed period (6 months), then the gallery will send the work back to the artist(s) by a signed courier service.
Visitors and friends need to make their own travel arrangements, please ask about hotel discount and recommendations for your stay in Lisbon.
