“The Possibility of an Island” is a collection of devices that convokes the audience in a reflection about several performative happenings which are driven by the premise: the artist is not present.

The conceptual duality between the present time of the phenomena and physical absence of the artist/piece of art is the trigger that joins all the proposed objects of this project, bringing the audience’s interactivity to a level of questioning the basis of the intentionality of the art: is art the intention of the seeing at an object or is it rather and only the object exposed to the sight of the viewer?

The artwork presented in this exhibition can be read as “islands of happenings” which appear and disappear by the rhythm of the spectator who, with his presence, makes emerge and submerge micro-events within the macro-emptiness of what is shown in the gallery.

In the attempt of amplifying and disseminating the idea that the artist is not present, or the artwork is not here, “The Possibility of an Island” is exhibited in 3 cities of 2 different countries at the same time.

This project is the result of a collaboration between Terceira Pessoa, from Castelo Branco, and Darling Desperados, from Stockholm, both artistic structures that have been working in similar ways in respect to the form and contempt of some of their projects.

In one way, the practices closely connected to the performative arts, as well as the continuous movement of questioning their own practice, brings to both companies a relation of mutual admiration and respect.

The projects that are related to the digital and virtual concepts both companies have been working on for the last 3 years, gave, on the other hand, strength to raise this partnership. In “The Possibility of an Island”, Terceira Pessoa and Darling Desperados challenge themselves to work on the performativity of the body – the analogic – in direct relation with the absence of physicality – the virtual. These two sides challenged the artists to create some objects that activates one kind of physicality, one kind of presence and a kind of present time, making the old desire of working together come true, even though the team were always physically absent.

𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐚 (𝐏𝐓)
Terceira Pessoa is an organisation that develops artistic projects, with a special focus on the performing arts and disciplinary crossing. In its projects, it emphasises a multidisciplinary approach, integrating professionals from a diverse range of artistic languages. Reaching audiences of various age groups and from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, Terceira Pessoa is building a project to bring the community closer to the cultural territories of its area, as well as other places in the country, and to promote an exchange between local heritage and contemporary languages. Terceira Pessoa is funded by the Directorate-General for the Arts/Portuguese Republic of Culture.

𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐬 (𝐒𝐄)
Darling Desperados was founded by Ulrika Malmgren and Katta Pålsson. They met at the Theater College in Malmö where they went in the same class 84-87. Award-winning performances and important groundbreaking artwork have made the name a symbol for a way of avant-garde art that always look for collaborations with new technic, powerful stories, breakneck staging, cutting edge artists, and give a space for residency and artistic research in relation to an audience. Writing, directing and performing over 50 different original works for the stage and 15 short movies and touring internationally. It’s first production was a movie that was based on a piece about Marilyn Monroes last 30 seconds before the actual moment of death. The decision that Darling Desperados should contain everything they wanted, movies, theater, music, performance, exhibitions… made it their playground and workplace for almost 25 years.

Curation: Darling Desperados e Terceira Pessoa
Works and artists:
— The blue line, by Nuno Leão;
— Duck to island, by João Dias;
— Vem e torna os meus sonhos frustrados em palavras de algodão, by Inês Nêves;
— Sem título (sem data), sem artista, sem formato, sem medida, by Inês Nêves;
— Possibility of an Island, by Ana Gil;
— Le Vernissage, by Óscar Silva
— Love makes life less painful, by Katta Pålsson, Emma Creed e Ulrika Malmgren;
— Explorer’s Diary, by Franco Veloz;
— Spanish Suitcase, by Tinna Joné
— Dog Days, by Valentin Malmgren e Dolgion Ganbyar;
Graphic Design: Cátia Santos
Executive Production: Rita Boavida e Tamara Cruz
Production Support: Bruno Esteves
Communication: Rita Piteira
Press: Rita Bonifácio/Paris,Texas
Financing: Apoio República Portuguesa – Cultura / Direção-Geral das Artes e Câmara Municipal
de Castelo Branco
Support: Fábrica da Criatividade, Romaria Cultural
Partners: Rua das Gaivotas 6 / Teatro Praga e Galleri Artsight