Trained at the Escola Superior de Belas-Artes de Lisboa in painting, José Nuno da Câmara Pereira (1937–2018) distinguished himself early on as a proponent of the need to break away from the formal, opening doors to the avant-garde not only in mainland Portugal but also in the Azores.
The interest of this artist from Maria in both scientific and artistic fields is reflected in his works, which result from a constant research and experimentation with different materials and media.
Despite his eclecticism, his compositions consistently demonstrate a strong tendency towards the theme of matter, explored across various artistic expressions, as the ephemerality and instability of materials mirror the artist’s fascination with the constant change of the world.
The work Celebration of the Earth III is a prime example of José Nuno da Câmara Pereira’s creative spirit, seeking to innovate painting by incorporating “anti-painting materials”. He removes earth from its natural context and integrates it into a composition with other unconventional materials, arranging them like geological strata, as if praising each individually while simultaneously highlighting their contribution to the whole.
This piece, which forms part of the Fine Arts Collection of the Museum of Angra do Heroísmo, is exhibited at Carmina | Dimas Simas Lopes Contemporary Art Gallery.
Text | Inês Machado
