PLAY(THE)GROUND:
Informality as Resistance
EXHIBITION
Summer Residency | Studios in Talude, Quinta da Fonte, Zambujal e Trafaria
— project duration
MARCH 18th - APRIL 1st 2025
FACULDADE DE BELAS-ARTES UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA - CISTERNA
Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas Artes 4, 1249-058 Lisboa
Monday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday Closed
MARCH 18th - APRIL 1st 2025
FACULDADE DE BELAS-ARTES UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA - CISTERNA
Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas Artes 4, 1249-058 Lisboa
Monday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday 12:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday Closed
— curatorial team
Aurélie d’Incau, Frederike Antonia Ohnewald, Lígia Fernandes, Lea Sofie Scholl, Nicole Campos Sánchez, Ricarda Oldekop, Sara Husnjak, Sara Malta, Sophia Niederkofler, Zoë Nowraty
Aurélie d’Incau, Frederike Antonia Ohnewald, Lígia Fernandes, Lea Sofie Scholl, Nicole Campos Sánchez, Ricarda Oldekop, Sara Husnjak, Sara Malta, Sophia Niederkofler, Zoë Nowraty
— exhibiting artists
Aleksandra Naydenova (BG), Alexander García Gonzalez (CO), Alice F. Martins (PT), Sofia Seidi (PT), Diana Ferro (IT), Małgorzata Minchberg (PL), Manuela Bueno Romeiro (BR), Maria Rita Bourbon (PT), MAx Provenzano (VE), Michele Turbanti (IT), Sara e Tralha (PT), Sarah Kilgallon (US), Suzy Willekens (NL), Riikka Elina Vainio (FI), Urban Pulse Collective - Danai Toursoglou Papalexandridou (GR) & Efthymia Chatzakou (GR), Vardit Goldner (IL)
Aleksandra Naydenova (BG), Alexander García Gonzalez (CO), Alice F. Martins (PT), Sofia Seidi (PT), Diana Ferro (IT), Małgorzata Minchberg (PL), Manuela Bueno Romeiro (BR), Maria Rita Bourbon (PT), MAx Provenzano (VE), Michele Turbanti (IT), Sara e Tralha (PT), Sarah Kilgallon (US), Suzy Willekens (NL), Riikka Elina Vainio (FI), Urban Pulse Collective - Danai Toursoglou Papalexandridou (GR) & Efthymia Chatzakou (GR), Vardit Goldner (IL)
SYNOPSIS
Evolving from the PLAY(THE)GROUND residency, Informality as Resistance (June to September 2024), the exhibition delves into the relationship between formality and informality, exploring how informal organization and structures can serve as powerful forms of resistance. The residency focused on the lived realities of communities in Quinta da Fonte, Talude, Zambujal, and Trafaria, where informal practices often provide a foundation for resilience and community identity. The participating artists spent different lengths of time in the residency, shaping their engagement with the neighborhoods and the residents in distinct ways.The presentation unfolds as a dialogue between diverse media – photographs, videos, sound pieces, digital prints, and tangible, material artworks such as sculptures and installations. These elements come together in the exhibition space, creating a temporary collection that encourages interaction, reflection, and sensory exploration. Yet, while they are presented together in this curated arrangement, each artwork maintains an independent trajectory, existing beyond the spatial and temporal boundaries of this setting.
Rather than isolated works, the pieces on display are fragments of ongoing dialogues, shaped through collaboration with local communities. Some emerged during the residency, while others took shape later, influenced by the experience. For many artists, the residency and their time with the communities marked the beginning of a deeper creative journey, with several pieces, practices, and lines of artistic research still evolving.
PUBLIC PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
→ LINK to sign up: https://forms.gle/yw82C7Rqy6uTVqkx7
1. EXHIBITION OPENING | 18/03/2025; 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (FBAUL CISTERNA) FREE ENTRY
Opening of the PLAY(THE)GROUND exhibition. We will count with the two performative moments by Max Provenzano who was a resident in Talude, and Rapper Mario King, from Trafaria.
2. A PLACE ON INFORMALITY: GUIDED TOUR & LUNCH IN TALUDE
2.1. Guided tour | 21/03/2025 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Talude (Loures)
2.2. Lunch | 21/03/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Talude (Loures) (€12.50 pp)
In this afternoon we will be having an encounter and cultural sharing with the neighborhoods who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies. We will be sharing food, making art together, and will sing and dance to the traditional sound of batuke, from Cape Verde. Played by the batukadeiras groups from the neighborhoods.
3. CULTURAL AFTERNOON | 22/03/2025 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA/CLAUSTRO
In this afternoon we will be having an encounter and cultural sharing with the neighborhoods who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies. We will be sharing food, making art together, and will sing and dance to the traditional sound of batuke, from Cape Verde. Played by the batukadeiras groups from the neighborhoods.
4. ENCOUNTERING AND PLANTING AT ZAMBUJAL NEIGHBORHOOD
4.1. Drawing class | 23/03/2025 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | CAZAMBUJAL, Bairro do Zambujal (Alfragide)
4.2. Walk + Farming Workshop | 23/03/2025 4:00 PM (start) | CAZAMBUJAL, Bairro do Zambujal (Alfragide)
In this afternoon we will experience two activities. We will start with a drawing workshop, where you will draw and get to know some of the people from Zambujal neighborhood, with the support of Lisbon Drawing Club. On the second part, we will explore the neighborhood into the informal farms, where we will learn a simple technique to make a plant bed, with the help of Hortas LX and a local farmer.
5. GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 25/03/2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
Guided tour to the exhibition with the Mais uno+1 curators.
6. ROUNDTABLE – "INFORMALITY AS RESISTANCE" (Portuguese) | 27/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | FBAUL (Room 2.34)
At this roundtable we will discuss the topic of informality as resistance with a group of people from different origins: artists, researchers, and the people from the neighborhoods who experience this balance on a daily basis. Discussion will take place in Portuguese.
7. OPEN MIC – (STORIES OF) INFORMALITY AS RESISTANCE (English/Portuguese) | 27/03/2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | FBAUL (Room 2.34)
In the open mic everyone is welcome to share a story about informality and resistance, and share an image to go with it. Each story lasts 5 minutes. We will be listening to a wide range of people, from inhabitants, to artists and thinkers.
8. GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 28/03/2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
Guided tour to the exhibition with the Mais uno+1 curators.
9. WORKSHOP DAY!
9.1. Workshop – Sarah Kilgallon | 29/03/2025 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
9.2. Workshop – Manu Romeiro | 29/03/2025 1:45 PM - 3:45 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
9.3. Workshop – Artist TBD | 29/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
In the workshop day you will have the chance to learn from the artists who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residency and learn their process. You can participate in one or more activities.
10. MURALS AND COMMUNITY: COLLECTIVE MURAL | 29-30/03/2025 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Trafaria (2º Torrão, Almada) (schedule may vary)
The artist Alexander Garcia invites us to visit Trafaria and collaborate with him and 2º Torrão community in making a collective mural in the neighborhood. You are very welcome to come and paint!
11. MURALS AND RESISTANCE: GUIDED TOUR | 30/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Quinta da Fonte (Loures)
Laurend Mendy is an inhabitant of Quinta da Fonte and holds the memory of the creation, destruction and resistance around mural making in the neighborhood. He has developed a guided tour where you will be invited to see and imagine the stories of informality and resistance told by the walls of the buildings.
12. FINISSAGE AND GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 01/04/2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
We invite you for a final moment of celebration at the exhibition. Join us!
→ LINK to sign up: https://forms.gle/yw82C7Rqy6uTVqkx7
1. EXHIBITION OPENING | 18/03/2025; 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (FBAUL CISTERNA) FREE ENTRY
Opening of the PLAY(THE)GROUND exhibition. We will count with the two performative moments by Max Provenzano who was a resident in Talude, and Rapper Mario King, from Trafaria.
2. A PLACE ON INFORMALITY: GUIDED TOUR & LUNCH IN TALUDE
2.1. Guided tour | 21/03/2025 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | Talude (Loures)
2.2. Lunch | 21/03/2025 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Talude (Loures) (€12.50 pp)
In this afternoon we will be having an encounter and cultural sharing with the neighborhoods who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies. We will be sharing food, making art together, and will sing and dance to the traditional sound of batuke, from Cape Verde. Played by the batukadeiras groups from the neighborhoods.
3. CULTURAL AFTERNOON | 22/03/2025 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA/CLAUSTRO
In this afternoon we will be having an encounter and cultural sharing with the neighborhoods who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies. We will be sharing food, making art together, and will sing and dance to the traditional sound of batuke, from Cape Verde. Played by the batukadeiras groups from the neighborhoods.
4. ENCOUNTERING AND PLANTING AT ZAMBUJAL NEIGHBORHOOD
4.1. Drawing class | 23/03/2025 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | CAZAMBUJAL, Bairro do Zambujal (Alfragide)
4.2. Walk + Farming Workshop | 23/03/2025 4:00 PM (start) | CAZAMBUJAL, Bairro do Zambujal (Alfragide)
In this afternoon we will experience two activities. We will start with a drawing workshop, where you will draw and get to know some of the people from Zambujal neighborhood, with the support of Lisbon Drawing Club. On the second part, we will explore the neighborhood into the informal farms, where we will learn a simple technique to make a plant bed, with the help of Hortas LX and a local farmer.
5. GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 25/03/2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
Guided tour to the exhibition with the Mais uno+1 curators.
6. ROUNDTABLE – "INFORMALITY AS RESISTANCE" (Portuguese) | 27/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | FBAUL (Room 2.34)
At this roundtable we will discuss the topic of informality as resistance with a group of people from different origins: artists, researchers, and the people from the neighborhoods who experience this balance on a daily basis. Discussion will take place in Portuguese.
7. OPEN MIC – (STORIES OF) INFORMALITY AS RESISTANCE (English/Portuguese) | 27/03/2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | FBAUL (Room 2.34)
In the open mic everyone is welcome to share a story about informality and resistance, and share an image to go with it. Each story lasts 5 minutes. We will be listening to a wide range of people, from inhabitants, to artists and thinkers.
8. GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 28/03/2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
Guided tour to the exhibition with the Mais uno+1 curators.
9. WORKSHOP DAY!
9.1. Workshop – Sarah Kilgallon | 29/03/2025 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
9.2. Workshop – Manu Romeiro | 29/03/2025 1:45 PM - 3:45 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
9.3. Workshop – Artist TBD | 29/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
In the workshop day you will have the chance to learn from the artists who participated in the PLAY(THE)GROUND residency and learn their process. You can participate in one or more activities.
10. MURALS AND COMMUNITY: COLLECTIVE MURAL | 29-30/03/2025 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Trafaria (2º Torrão, Almada) (schedule may vary)
The artist Alexander Garcia invites us to visit Trafaria and collaborate with him and 2º Torrão community in making a collective mural in the neighborhood. You are very welcome to come and paint!
11. MURALS AND RESISTANCE: GUIDED TOUR | 30/03/2025 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Quinta da Fonte (Loures)
Laurend Mendy is an inhabitant of Quinta da Fonte and holds the memory of the creation, destruction and resistance around mural making in the neighborhood. He has developed a guided tour where you will be invited to see and imagine the stories of informality and resistance told by the walls of the buildings.
12. FINISSAGE AND GUIDED TOUR TO EXHIBITION | 01/04/2025 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM | FBAUL CISTERNA
We invite you for a final moment of celebration at the exhibition. Join us!
SUPPORT
PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies have the support of Ministério da Cultura / Direcção Geral das Artes. Other support: AMRT, Associação de Moradores A partilha, Cooperactiva, FBAUL, NOVA FCSH, aRTISTAS aNÓNIMOS, Lisbon Drawing Club, HortasLX, Muro Atelier, Colorfoto, AfroLink, GERADOR.
Photo Gallery
Update in progress
PLAY(THE)GROUND residencies have the support of Ministério da Cultura / Direcção Geral das Artes. Other support: AMRT, Associação de Moradores A partilha, Cooperactiva, FBAUL, NOVA FCSH, aRTISTAS aNÓNIMOS, Lisbon Drawing Club, HortasLX, Muro Atelier, Colorfoto, AfroLink, GERADOR.
Photo Gallery
Update in progress