Who is the Portuguese artist Alexandre Estrela?
Alexandre Estrela (1971) is a renowned Portuguese artist who has been exploring formal and conceptual issues related to the perception of image and sound. It uses technological devices, such as cameras and video projectors, to create complex and provocative works. His creations often defy conventional perception, using visual and sound effects, unusual associations and transformations of space to stimulate a critical awareness in the viewer.
In addition to his artistic practice, Alexandre Estrela has been a professor of video at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lisbon since 2005 and has also been involved in curating projects and programming exhibition spaces, such as Oporto, in Lisbon, where he presents works by artists national and international in the field of cinema and experimental video.
Alexandre Estrela's works have been regularly exhibited in important institutions and galleries, including the Museu do Chiado, the Modern Art Center of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Witte de With in Rotterdam, among others. It is represented in several public and private collections, consolidating its relevance in the contemporary artistic scene in Portugal.
What are the main characteristics of Alexandre Estrela's work?
Exploration of technical possibilities: Alexandre Estrela is known for his ability to explore the technical characteristics of the media he uses, such as video and cinema. He uses devices such as cameras, video projectors and screens in an inventive way, experimenting with different visual and sound effects.
Reflection on perception: Alexandre Estrela is interested in challenging conventional perception and questioning how we see and interpret the world around us. It uses visual and sound strategies to create immersive and ambiguous environments, leading viewers to question their own perceptual experiences.
Intersection between art and technology: Alexandre Estrela approaches the intersection between art and technology, exploring the possibilities offered by technological advances in relation to the production and reception of the image. It investigates the relationship between the moving image and materiality, as well as the influence of technology on the way we perceive the world.
Use of cultural and historical references: Alexandre Estrela's work often incorporates cultural, historical and cinematographic references. It dialogues with the history of art, referring to previous artistic movements and exploring the relationship between tradition and contemporaneity.
Ambiguity and deconstruction: Alexandre Estrela uses strategies that challenge the public's conventions and expectations, seeking to deconstruct habitual modes of perception and knowledge. He creates intentional ambiguities and misunderstandings, leading viewers to question their own interpretations and reflect on the multiple layers of meaning in his works.
How does Alexandre Estrela address formal and conceptual issues in his artistic practice?
Technical experimentation: Alexandre Estrela is known for his ability to explore the technical possibilities of the media he uses, such as video and cinema. It investigates the specific characteristics of these media and experiments with different devices, techniques and formats. His technical approach allows him to create unique visual and sound effects, challenging traditional conventions and exploring new forms of expression.
Interaction between image and matter: Alexandre Estrela is interested in the relationship between image and matter, exploring how these elements intersect and influence each other. Incorporate physical and material elements into your video installations, creating a more immersive sensory experience. By integrating materiality in the context of the moving image, it questions the nature of perception and challenges the conventional idea of visual representation.
Perceptual deconstruction: Alexandre Estrela's work often challenges conventional perception, leading viewers to question how we see and interpret the world around us. He uses visual and sound strategies to create ambiguous and disconcerting environments, in which the boundaries between reality and illusion dissolve. This perceptive deconstruction stimulates a critical awareness of our processes of perception and knowledge.
Dialogue with art history and cinema: Alexandre Estrela makes references to art history and cinema in his works, dialoguing with previous artistic movements and cinematographic aesthetics. It incorporates elements and techniques from these traditions, reinterpreting them in a contemporary and personal way. This approach creates a connection between the past and the present, while questioning the evolution of the moving image.
What are the recurring themes in Alexandre Estrela's work?
Perception and reality: Alexandre Estrela is interested in questioning conventional perception and exploring the boundaries between the real and the illusory. It creates visual and sound environments that challenge our perception of the world, leading us to question the nature of reality and the way we interpret what we see and hear.
Technology and moving image: As an artist who works with video and cinema, Alexandre Estrela investigates the impact of technology on the production and reception of the moving image. It explores the technical possibilities and limitations of technological devices, as well as the changes in the way we interact with images in the digital age.
Visual narratives and ambiguity: Alexandre Estrela often creates complex and ambiguous visual narratives that challenge the viewer's interpretation. His works can contain multiple layers of meaning and leave room for different interpretations, encouraging active participation and critical reflection on the part of the public.
Relationship between image and matter: Alexandre Estrela explores the relationship between the moving image and materiality, integrating physical and material elements in his video installations. It challenges the idea that the image is a mere reflection of reality, investigating how materiality can affect the way we perceive and interpret images.
What are the strategies used by Alexandre Estrela to challenge conventional perception and create misunderstandings in the spectators' perspective?
Visual and sound effects: Alexandre Estrela incorporates visual and sound effects into his works, which can create dissonance and disconcert the viewer's perception. It uses unexpected combinations, overlaps, distortions and repetitions to destabilize the visual and auditory experience, creating an immersive and challenging environment.
Ambiguity and narrative deconstruction: Alexandre Estrela often works with ambiguous and fragmented visual narratives, in which linearity and coherence are challenged. It may feature sequences of images that seem disconnected or that suggest multiple possible stories. This approach creates a space for open and uncertain interpretations, challenging the viewer's perspective.
Interaction between image and matter: Alexandre Estrela incorporates physical and material elements in his video installations, creating an interaction between the moving image and materiality. This approach challenges the idea that the image is just a representation of reality, emphasizing the importance of physical space and the spectator's presence in the perception of the work.
Perspective games and illusions: Alexandre Estrela uses techniques that play with perspective and create optical illusions. You can explore stereoscopy, overlapping images or using reflections to challenge spatial perception and disorient the viewer. These strategies question the notion of a stable and objective vision.
Conscious use of the exhibition space: Alexandre Estrela takes into account the exhibition space when creating his works, manipulating the architecture and challenging the expectations of the public. You can modify the layout of the screens, create structures that extend through the space or use projections on non-conventional surfaces. These spatial interventions contribute to the creation of an immersive and disorienting experience.
