WIRELESS was a cycle of thematic artist residencies aimed to visual artists interested in learning or deepening  knowledge in textile techniques such as: Embroidery, Weaving, Stamping and Dyeing.

WIRELESS wanted to encourage visual artists to learn and to incorporate the “textile language” in their artistic practice, understanding it in an expanded way without necessarily contemplating the use of wires, hence the name wireless.

WIRELESS had place mainly in Arraiolos, a town where rugs are hand embroidered since the middle age, located in Alentejo, one of the least-populated regions in western Europe.

WIRELESS wanted to create an artists web without wires, borders and cultural barriers.

In this first edition WIRELESS invited 21 artists to participate in the residencies in 2022 and to join a group exhibition in 2023 in Arraiolos, Évora and Poznan (Poland).

WIRELESS ARTISTS

AND TEACHERS

PORTFOLIO PRESENTATIONS

Every residency started with a presentation day where each participant share her/his art portfolio to the others.

WORK AT THE OFFICE

The office work was divided in four disciplines: embroidery, tapestry, stamping and dyeing.
Participants worked in the office intensively with the support and guidance of the teachers.
Embroidery, tapestry and dyeing offices took place in the Córtex Frontal house, while the stamping office happened at the School of Arts of Evora University who generously let us use the silk screen office.

study visits

During each residency participants were guided in a visit to CITA (Tapestry Museum of Arraiolos) that generated an open discussion around colour, patterns, iconography, fabric and stitch.

We also visited the Oleirita lake where participants discovered the Montado agroforestry and collected natural elements such as plants, seeds etc. to experiment and include in their work.

open day

During each residency we organised an open day when visitors could come and get to know the artists and their work. They could also learn and share their knowledge on embroidery, tapestry, stamping and dyeing in a practical workshop.

LECTURES

The Wireless team was invited to give lectures at Escola de Artes of Evora University, Portugal and the New University of Art in Poznan to explain the project to students of art, as well as guided visits to the exhibitions.

EXHIBITIONS

[April 2023]
The exhibition at Córtex Frontal and Plato (Évora) included works by Abby King, Alexandre Camarao, Archontoula Tsatsoulaki,  Cornelia Buchheim, Diana Carvalho, E J Caro, Erin C. Doherty, Francisca Carvalho, Joana BC, Joana Siquenique, Lesia Synychenko, Luísa Jacinto, Magdalena Kleszyńska, Maria José Mir, Maria Motylevna, Marta Leite, Mónica Faria, Natacha Antão, Tabitha Arnold e Svenja Tiger and was curated by Mercedes Vidal-Abarca and Diogo Ramalho.

[October 2023]
Poznan, Polónia

The Wireless project was invited to be recreated in a new version in Poland. An exhibition organized by the Foundation of the New University of Art in Poznan with support from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage / Visual Arts 2023.

The new exhibition was part of the Poznan Textile Biennale, at Galeria Nowa Scena, with works by:

Alexandre Camarao / Archontoula Tsatsoulaki / Andrzej Banachowicz / Abby King / Cornelia Buchheim /Erin Doherty / Eli Caro / Joana BC / Francisca Carvalho / Magdalena Kleszyńska / Marta Barrenechea / Marta Leite / Svenja Tiger / Maria Jose Mir / Joana Siquenique

Curated by Mercedes Vidal-Abarca and Diogo Ramalho.

SUPPORT

This project was possible thanks to the support of Direção Geral das Artes - Ministry of Culture, Câmara Municipal de Arraiolos. We also received the support from School of Arts of Evora University who let us use their silk screen office, Junta de Freguesia de Arraiolos who borrow us a van in order to go the School of Arts and Dona Ajuda who donated textiles to the project.
Special thanks to Saber Fazer, Restaurante Gingão e Dona Teresa.

The exhibition in Poznan, Poland was organised by The Foundation of the New University of Art in Poznan with the support of Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage / Visual Arts 2023.

TEAM

Direction: Mercedes Vidal-Abarca (Córtex Frontal);
Artistic Direction: Susana Pires and Flávia Vieira;
Project curator: Filipe Rocha da Silva;
Exhibition curators: Diogo Ramalho (Plato Gallery) and Magdalena Kleszyńska;
Teachers: Ana Isabel Ramos, Guida Fonseca, Vanda Sim Sim e Flávia Vieira;
Design: Oh!Mana studio