The Portuguese artist Nadir Afonso (1920- 2013) was a pioneer in geometric abstraction in Portugal, being a fundamental figure for modernism in this country. In an initial period of pictorial experimentation, through figurativism and the representation of reality, he followed a surrealist aesthetic that transitioned to abstractionism. This is how he discovered his attraction to geometric painting. The artist considered that art was not the fruit of imagination, but of observation and manipulation of
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The Portuguese artist Nadir Afonso (1920- 2013) was a pioneer in geometric abstraction in Portugal, being a fundamental figure for modernism in this country. In an initial period of pictorial experimentation, through figurativism and the representation of reality, he followed a surrealist aesthetic that transitioned to abstractionism. This is how he discovered his attraction to geometric painting. The artist considered that art was not the fruit of imagination, but of observation and manipulation of form. He studied Architecture at the Escola Superior de Belas-Artes do Porto, having carried out architectural work, collaborating with architects such as Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer. However, his passion has always been painting.Nadir Afonso He continued to paint, having approached this technique through Dordio Gomes, through participation in the exhibitions of the Grupo dos Independentes, and in the Missões Aesthetics in Évora, being in 1940 his debut exhibition. Nadir Afonso He is the author of a unique work, structured in the international artistic context with consistent pioneering spirit and one of the most prominent artists in 20th and 21st century art. Nadir Afonso In his art, he defends an aesthetic that presupposes the relationship between geometric laws, universal laws that exist in Nature, which are essential to achieving harmony, and the changing relationship of functions and needs that allow determining the evolutionary laws, which are not specific to the work of art. This process is supported by reflection and theoretical-philosophical analysis, with its own formulation and the consequent practical work as a guiding thread for a rational methodology. During his artistic career he had several periods: first modernity, surrealist period, baroque period, pre-geometric period, Egyptian period, spacillimité, ogival period, perspective period, anthropomorphic period, organicism, fractal period and geometric realism. His artistic production is unique and fundamental to the study of modernism in Portugal. He was the author of important public works such as the project for the Panificadora de Chaves (a building of municipal interest and one of the 100 most significant works of Portuguese architecture of the 20th century), the panels for the Restauradores station of the Metropolitano de Lisboa (1996), a panel of tiles for the Coina Railway Station (2006), created a tile panel for the Boticas Town Hall (2009) and created tile panels for the access tunnel to the Beach in Cascais (2011). The painter, who died in 2013, no longer saw the Museum of Contemporary Art named after him born in his hometown and receiving part of his work. Opened in 2016, it is located on the right bank of the Tâmega River, next to Ponte de São Roque. It is a space for cultural enjoyment of excellence, consisting of several spaces, temporary and permanent exhibition rooms, auditorium, archive, library and store. A space with exceptional features, modern and unique, to pay homage to the genius of the Flavian painter Nadir Afonso.
