This exhibition presents a group of works by Ângelo de Sousa (Maputo, Mozambique, 1938–Porto, Portugal, 2011) and Zulmiro de Carvalho (Gondomar, Portugal, 1940), two central figures from the generation of artists who, during that period, were questioned the artistic tradition in Portugal, spearheading a movement for the renewal of sculpture.

Familiar with the pioneering experiences that had begun to emerge in the international context, Ângelo, Zulmiro and their peers rejected the figurative and symbolic tradition of the commemorative statuary that had dominated Portuguese art in order to embrace issues intrinsic to the sculptural act, such as the exploration of form and three-dimensional composition, opening doors to abstraction and to a direct relation with the surrounding space and the movement of the body.

The show is centred around a group of historical sculptures by the two artists which showcase distinct features of their individual artistic paths and reveal how they relate to the international artistic trends associated with British abstract sculpture, American minimalism, and process art which marked this pivotal period, with profound repercussions over the following decades. In dialogue with these sculptures, the exhibition presents a group of Ângelo de Sousa’s film works from the same period, together with later pieces by Zulmiro de Carvalho, highlighting points of contact and interferences between the two fields of creation, across works from different periods and among the two practices.

This exhibition, curated by Joana Valsassina, is part of the Serralves Collection Touring Exhibitions Programme, which aims to make the Foundation’s collection accessible to different audiences across the country.

Production: Fundação de Serralves — Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Porto