Drawing from objects

For this session, the artist João Ferro Martins proposes an elaboration exercise based on a set of small sculptures. Born from a discussion regarding what the notion of drawing can be, aside from the bidimensionality of classic models, they intend to trigger a mental process that will result in a physical combination of several elements in the construction of an abstract image, which should step away from the symbolism and narrative of the objects used.

João Ferro Martins was born in 1979 in Santarém. He attended Visual Arts at E.S.A.D in Caldas da Rainha, where his work on painting, drawing and photography began. He has lived in Lisbon since 2003, where his work gained a tridimensional and a vocal presence. He developed numerous actions involving music, performance and video, and took part in several collective exhibitions, most notably the "10ª Edição Prémio Novos Artistas" Fundação EDP / Galeria Fundação EDP Porto and Casa da Música, Porto; "Visões do Desterro", Caixa Cultural do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro; "I wish this was a song, Music in Contemporary Art", Nasjonalmuseet, Museet for Samtidskunst, Oslo; "MNAA Olhares Contemporâneos", Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon; "Junho das Artes", Museu Municipal de Óbidos, Óbidos; "A Secreta Vida das Palavras", Centro de Artes de Sines, Sines; "7 Artistas ao 10º Mês", Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon - amongst others.

On an individual basis, the following exhibitions stand out: "La cosa che vuoi didmi è bella o brutta?" / 3+1 Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon; "reprise" / Galeria Fernando Santos, espaço Padaria independente, Porto; "Ficção Científica" / Atelier Concorde, Lisboa; "F.O.R.M.E.L." (Faux, Ordinaire, Revêche, Manipulateur, Egoïste, Lascif) / Caroline Pagès Gallery, Lisbon; "From L to L and back again" (João Ferro Martins e Ruth Proctor) / The Mews, Project Space, London; "Mistifório" / Reflexus Arte Contemporânea, Porto; "Falsete" / Espaço Avenida 211 / Sala Bebé, Lisbon.

Materials participants should bring to the session:

Participants are requested to bring along a selection of objects (minimum 10). These objects should be simple and small, not exceeding 20cm in total length. They can be random pieces made of various materials, or everyday objects. The objects should not have any personal value, as they will be grouped and made available to all participants.

The works resulting from the meeting belong exclusively to their artists.