Lourdes Castro, one of the most emblematic figures in Portuguese contemporary art, left a profound and multifaceted artistic legacy. Throughout her career, marked by constant experimentation, the artist explored themes such as light, shadow, and absence, using a variety of techniques and media that challenged the limits of traditional art. From her involvement with the KWY collective in Paris to the creation of her groundbreaking "Shadow Theater," Castro stood out for the originality and poetic depth of her works. This artist not only influenced art in Portugal but also achieved international recognition, cementing her position as one of the most important creators of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her work, centered on simplicity and symbolism, continues to inspire and provoke reflection, making Lourdes Castro an essential presence in the art scene.
What is Lourdes Castro's artistic career?
Lourdes Castro had a multifaceted artistic career, which began on the island of Madeira, where she was born in 1930, and developed internationally, influenced by various artistic movements and her own creative exploration. Lourdes began her studies at the German College in Funchal, but in 1950, at the age of 20, she left for Lisbon to study at the Lisbon School of Fine Arts (ESBAL), where she completed her painting degree in 1956. She launched her artistic career with a group exhibition in 1954 at the National Cultural Center in Lisbon, alongside José Escada and Carvalho e Rêgo.
After marrying René Bertholo in 1957, Lourdes moved to Paris, where she settled in 1958. That same year, she received a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which enabled her to develop one of her first major projects: the creation of the magazine KWY. This silkscreen publication became a meeting place for artists of different nationalities and styles. The KWY collective included artists such as Christo, Jan Voss, and Costa Pinheiro, and had a significant impact on the European art scene, holding exhibitions in cities such as Lisbon.
In the early years of her career in Paris, Lourdes was associated with abstraction, a common trend among the members of the KWY group. In the early 1960s, she began exploring Nouveau Réalisme, using collages and assemblages of everyday objects, often painted with aluminum paint, reflecting the modernity and banality of everyday life.
The 1960s marked the beginning of Lourdes's central interest in shadows, which would define much of her work. This theme, initially explored in screen printing, extended to other media such as Plexiglas, translucent linen, and theatrical performances. In 1964, she began using Plexiglas to create shadow representations, and in 1968, she began embroidering the outlines of shadows on linen sheets. Her work also included experimentation with "Shadow Theater," which she began in 1966 and continued in collaboration with Manuel Zimbro, her life and artistic partner, with whom she developed several projects over more than three decades.
Lourdes Castro continued to develop her work over the decades, with exhibitions in several cities in Europe and Latin America. In 1992, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation organized a retrospective entitled Além da Sombra (Beyond the Shadow). Also noteworthy are her collaborations with Francisco Tropa at the 1998 São Paulo Biennial and the CELPA award / Vieira da Silva – Visual Arts Consecration in 2004. At the end of his career, he also produced works in tapestry and tiles.
What are the characteristics of Lourdes Castro's works?
Exploration of the Shadow Theme: Shadow is a central element in Lourdes Castro's work, a constant reflection on presence and absence, light and darkness. The artist used shadows as a way to capture the essence of people and objects, without needing to represent the physical body or the object itself. Her Plexiglas works, silkscreens, embroidery, and "Shadow Theater" performances explore this concept in various ways.
Use of Non-Traditional Materials: Lourdes Castro experimented with a variety of unconventional materials, such as Plexiglas, translucent linen sheets, and aluminum paint. Her use of these materials reflects her ability to push the boundaries of traditional art, creating works that interact with space and light in innovative ways.
Minimalism and Abstraction: Although he began his career influenced by abstraction, his work evolved toward a more minimalist aesthetic. His shadow representations are often simple outlines of human figures or objects, devoid of detail, reinforcing the shadow's ethereal and intangible character.
Collage and Assemblage: During her early phase, linked to Nouveau Réalisme, Lourdes Castro produced collages and assemblages of obsolete everyday objects, creating compositions that combined real-life elements with abstraction. These works are painted with aluminum paint, giving them a metallic, industrial appearance.
Interactivity and Performativity: Lourdes didn't limit herself to static media. Through her "Shadow Theater," she engaged the audience in an interactive and performative experience, where shadows came to life in motion. This performative use of shadows added a dynamic dimension to her work, exploring ephemerality and transformation.
Symbology and Visual Poetry: The shadows Lourdes Castro captures are symbolic, evoking the notion of absence, memory, and the ephemeral. Her works invite the public to reflect on the invisible and immaterial, providing a poetic and contemplative experience.
Influence of Nature: The natural landscape of Madeira, her homeland, played an important role in her work, especially in the series O grande herbarium de sombras (1972), where Lourdes captured shadows of plants and vegetation, transforming elements of nature into poetic symbols.
Artistic Collaboration: Lourdes Castro's partnership with Manuel Zimbro was significant, especially in the development of performative works and in deepening the concept of shadow. This collaboration resulted in several joint performances and exhibitions, such as the anthology "Lourdes de Castro e Manuel Zimbro: A Luz da Sombra" (Lourdes de Castro and Manuel Zimbro: The Light of Shadow) in 2010.
What are Lourdes Castro's influences?
Natural Landscape of Madeira: Madeira Island, where he was born and to which he returned in 1983, had a significant influence on his work. The nature, light, and shadows of the island landscape were sources of inspiration, particularly evident in works such as *The Great Herbarium of Shadows* (1972), where he captured shadows of plants and natural elements. This connection to nature reflects the importance of the island in his artistic imagination.
Abstraction and Contemporary European Art: When she moved to Paris in the late 1950s, Lourdes Castro was immersed in the European art scene, which was heavily influenced by abstraction. Early in her career, she and other artists in the KWY group explored abstract forms, and this artistic movement influenced her early work.
Nouveau Réalisme: During the 1960s, Lourdes Castro became involved with the Nouveau Réalisme movement, an artistic movement that valued the use of everyday objects and their artistic recontextualization. This influence is evident in her collages and assemblages, where she used obsolete everyday objects, often painted with aluminum paint, reflecting the concept of art as a mirror of modern life.
Shadow Symbolism: The shadow, which would become the central element of her work, is an influence that Lourdes Castro cultivated from cultural and literary references. Since the early 1960s, she began exploring the shadow as a metaphor for presence and absence, drawing inspiration from myths, stories, and traditions that associate shadow with the soul, memory, and the ephemeral. The theme of shadow permeates her work, explored in different media and formats.
Minimalism: Lourdes Castro's work is also influenced by minimalism, particularly in her simplified representation of human figures and objects through shadows. The absence of detail and the focus on simple contours and essential forms reflect this minimalist aesthetic.
Theater and Performativity: Experimenting with Shadow Theater brought performative influences to her work. Inspired by theatrical traditions and the very notion of shadow theater, Lourdes incorporated movement and performativity into her work, exploring the interaction between light, shadow, and the human body. This approach was further explored in collaboration with artist Manuel Zimbro, with whom she developed several artistic performances.
Collaborators and Contemporary Artists: The interaction and collaboration with other artists, particularly those who were part of the KWY collective, such as René Bertholo, Jan Voss, and Christo, were important in the development of her artistic vision. This group shared an experimental approach and challenged the limits of traditional art, something that was reflected in various phases of Lourdes' work.
International Avant-garde Movements: Lourdes's time in Paris, a center of avant-garde art, exposed her to movements such as Surrealism, Dadaism, and Conceptualism. These movements encouraged her to embrace new forms of expression and artistic techniques, such as screen printing and assemblage.
Why should I invest in works by Lourdes Castro?
Importance in the Context of Portuguese Contemporary Art:
Lourdes Castro is one of the most important figures in Portuguese contemporary art. Throughout her career, she developed a unique artistic language, centered on the exploration of shadows and the intersection between light and absence. Her work has influenced generations of artists, and her recognition both in Portugal and internationally guarantees her enduring relevance.
International Recognition:
Lourdes Castro's works are known beyond Portugal's borders. She has participated in prestigious exhibitions such as the São Paulo Biennial and the Venice Biennale, and her works are in the collections of important museums such as the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. This international recognition lends her creations a credibility that tends to increase their value over time.
Cultural and Historical Legacy:
Castro spearheaded innovative artistic movements, such as the KWY group, which played a crucial role in 20th-century European art. Her contributions to the development of new art forms, such as her performative shadow work, earned her pioneering status. Investing in Lourdes Castro means being part of a legacy that shaped the history of modern and contemporary art.
Growth of the Contemporary Art Market:
The contemporary art market has grown significantly, with an increased demand for works by established artists with a solid legacy. Lourdes Castro's works are well positioned to appreciate in value over time, especially as interest in modernist and contemporary artists continues to expand.
Scarcity and Exclusivity:
Since Lourdes Castro passed away in 2022, her artistic production is limited, making her works scarce and exclusive. Scarcity is a fundamental factor that drives the value of a work of art, especially by deceased artists whose creations are no longer produced. Owning a work by Lourdes Castro means owning a unique piece by one of the icons of Portuguese contemporary art.
Diversity of Supports and Techniques:
Lourdes Castro worked with a variety of media, including screen printing, Plexiglas, tapestry, embroidery, and performance art, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire a variety of works with her own personal touch. This versatility makes her work attractive to a wide range of collectors, increasing demand and market value.
Aesthetic and Intellectual Appreciation:
Lourdes Castro's works, centered on the concept of shadow, convey a poetic and philosophical depth that transcends mere aesthetic appreciation. The combination of minimalism, symbolism, and interactivity makes her creations intriguing to both art experts and ordinary admirers. Investing in her work is not only a financial decision, but also a way to acquire art that offers a rich intellectual and emotional experience.
Participation in Exhibitions and Retrospectives:
Exhibitions and retrospectives dedicated to Lourdes Castro's work, such as those held by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, reinforce her importance in the art world. These exhibitions increase the artist's visibility and, consequently, the value of her works in the art market.
