A Modern Point of View

Netless is the name of the exhibition being currently presented by the Portuguese plastic artist Joana Vasconcelos at the Museu Colecção Berardo, CCB, in Lisbon.This is the artist's first survey exhibition, showing works from the last fifteen years. It can be visited until May 18th, from 10am to 7pm (10pm on Saturdays).
In 37 creative and unexpected pieces, Joana Vasconcelos presents her critical vison of western civilization. Find her inspiration in common imagination, the artist uses only objects from everyday life to deconstruct values and examine the problems of our society, namely religious intolerance, women's status, and tradition and modernity.
Throughout the exhibition you'll get to see and enormous chandelier, The Bride, totally made of OB tampons. You'll also find an impressive shining shoe, Cinderella,constructed using only pots and their lids, a symbol of both glamour and domestic life. One of my favorite pieces was The Garden of Eden, a dark room with a labyrinth decorated with "electrical" flowers, reflecting the conflict between technology and nature. But believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. You're bound to be amazed by every single creation. You'll find art in things as simple as a blister with 500mg aspirin pills. All the objects are used intact, but they produce new meanings.
If you want to spend a while thinking about our world, the consumer socieaty, and many western habits and customs, here is the perfect activity for you. I would recommend that you also bring your children. They will surely start to look at art in a different way. This free exhibition has some interactive tasks, and guides available especially for children.

Carmo A. Sousa