Uma força Misteriosa at Raizvanguarda

" Uma força misteriosa "

- Beatriz M Barrio 
- Paula Förstner 

Förstner e Barrio, ambas vieram de Madrid, Espanha vieram para a Raizvanguarda para sentir a inspiração da natureza portuguesa em torno da escola e aproveitar os belos espaços que temos aqui.Ambas as artistas trabalham com temas como memórias, feminilidade e a influência da luz natural. 
Esta exposição colaborativa surgiu do desejo de exibir as obras que elas criaram durante sua residência em Raizvanguarda, quase como uma cerimónia final.

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Förstner and Barrio, who both happen to come from Madrid, Spain have come to Raizvanguarda to feel the inspiration of the Portuguese nature surrounding the school as well as enjoy the beautiful spaces we have here. 
Both artists work with topics such as memories, womanhood and the influence of natural light. 
This collaborative exhibition rose from the desire to display the works they have created during their stay at Raizvanguarda, almost as a ceremonial ending to their visit.

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 The main focus of my artwork is gender determined. It deals with the role women are generally supposed - and allowed to play in society.
My project, “Seas of fire” depicts the different aspects of traditionally female tasks such as knitting, cooking, sewing and even in educational contexts. It illustrates how women are expected to fit in a social frame that they often can’t break. 
For my work I search for old photos and other materials such as sewing patterns, magazines or papers I find in flea markets, which I then convert and alter in a creative way to convey the idea of the traditional role that women are supposed to fill. The other important aspect of my work is to honour the lives of women long forgotten; they’ve been revived and reviewed once again. 
In my work I get inspired by the things and images I find, but this time being in Portugal I got inspired by the tiles and the way they are combined when putting together a decorative pattern, where each individual part is important to create a complete piece. This newly found aspect was a hint for me to start doing something similar connected to my project. At Raizvanguarda I also discovered a treasure: lots of old papers from an abondened paper factory as well as many sewing patterns and photos from a local seamstress. This let to a continuous flow of creating tile-sized images where the gender roles are concealed in colourful patterns. Finally, the chance to be able to exhibit my work in a classroom where the memories of girls being taught how to fit in society remain, perfectly illustrates my intentions.

Paula Förstner

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My work is an exploration of psychological, metaphysical and spiritual concerns from an autobiographical perspective. Video art is the tool that allows me to record my performative actions and a way of accessing subconscious memories hidden in my body. Drawing helps me register some of these fleeting actions and light becomes an ephemeral material with which I can also draw.
 
The starting point of the work is the recent death of my father. It was an intense experience that opened me to a deeper dimension of consciousness. My father died when he was 88. He said he had lived two lives and an epilogue. His first life was his first 40 years where he was a catholic priest dedicated to the spiritual life. His second life was dedicated to his wife and children. In his last 8 years he had to face illness, aging and death. My work is a reflection of his life and mine, exploring themes such as: death, sexuality, family, religion, female and male energy, polarities and the passing of time. I try to face the inevitable impermanence of all beings, including myself and the big mystery of ‘why are we here’. Life and death are ‘mysterious forces’ that overwhelm me with its power and I can only bow down to them.

Beatriz  M  Barrio