MANUEL SEITA – Artificial Paradises

Press Release

This Text is to be included on the website: http://www.cidadelaartdistrict.com/

The exhibition Paraísos Artificiais that I held at the Oficinas space in 2008, in Aljustrel, in the Portuguese southern province of Alentejo, was a wonderful opportunity to explore a myriad of materials and ideas that were characterized by a profound artistic intervention in the space.Most of the works were worked on-site, which is a real privilege but also a challenge.

Most artistic interventions were of a large format. This allows for the most comprehensive possible occupation of space.
Outside the exhibition, two works Paraísos Artificiais – Artificial Paradisesâ a desk with a hidden speaker that echoed an excerpt from The Artificial Paradisesâ by Charles Baudelaire read by a friend, followed by a bunch of hanging blinds (which moved powered by an engine).
The main Hall featured two major interventions Corrrentes de escrita – Current of Writingâ sheets of newspaper folded and placed on the wall as a drawing. And also “Muro das Lamenta – Weeping Wall” an installation made with stacked floor cubs and wood.

In a small room Once Upon a Timeâ a video installation filmed on the spot. It was actually a performance that consisted of throwing window blinds in the air, over and over again and let it fall in its vertex, in balance. This work resulted in Once Upon a Time , an audio recording separated from the image with the sound of the impact of the blinds against the floor, suggesting the sound of a storm.
In a narrow corridor “Mine” was a work made with dowels glued to the ceiling forming the words Mina referring to mining in Aljustrel. There was also a text glued on the wall (taken from the exhibition catalogue of the Municipal Archeology Museum of Aljustrel) as well as boxes of wall plugs glued to the wall. Red cellophane paper covered the lighting, which conveyed a more closed and dangerous environment.

Some works such as (Sopro – Blow I and Blow II) asked the visitor to join in because they were made of suspended cut white fabric and transparent plastic. “Comprimidos – Pillsâ was a drawing made with small fragments of aluminium glued to the wall conveying the idea of a landscape. “Under the Alentejo sun” was made with grouped aluminium bases, a reference t0 the artist Sol LeWitt because the space with its huge window thus required it. The white bases of the plinths were used to make White Squaresâ and were placed directly on the floor. In the same room and establishing a dialogue, 2 more works “Degraus – Ladders” on the floor, 6 iron bars in an interplay between dimensions and directions. And “4 Iron Barsa alluded to exactly that idea of 4 twisted bars that shared the same space.
“Water Lines” was held in a narrow corridor above the bar. Blinds that suggested water lines, a landscape in balance and or a drawing on the floor.