La Belle Revue Entretien avec...

http://www.labellerevue.org/en/global-terroir/porto/entretien-avecandre-sousaet-mauro-cerqueiramembres-deuma-certa-faltade-coerencia
La belle revue —» Could you describe in what context was created A Certain Lack of Coherence and why, according to the situation of Porto art scene, did you decide to get involved in that space?
Uma Certa Falta de Coerência —»  Uma Certa Falta de Coerência (A Certain Lack of Coherence) opened in early 2008. Back then, Porto's centre was far from being a major touristic attraction. The location is a very ruined shop in Rua dos Caldeireiros, 77. The space is made of five rooms that flow, one after the other, in a very organic way. No wall is straight, no texture is slick or homogeneous. The smell and temperature are not much different than a cave where someone tried once to live. These characteristics were decisive for the origin of the project, to reveal the state of the city, and allow artists to challenge, and be challenged by such a space. At the time, several of the city artist-run spaces had just closed down. With the same spontaneity that one can bring an end to projects like this, we've decided to open a new one.
The project was named after a book by Jimmie Durham where one can find the text "Artists must begin helping themselves".
Uma Certa Falta de Coerência is an artist run, non-commercial gallery and non-funded project. Our project has neither legal identity, nor record in the States' paper. We are not a registered association, we have neither bank account, nor fiscal number and we have no contract with the landlord or collaborators.
We are aware that this project exists in the continuity of an artist-run spaces history, not only in the the city, but also internationally.

L.B.R—» Would you agree that there has been a revival of the “artist-run spaces” (which is definitively not a new concept) all over the world those past ten years? I believe their activities are mandatory to revive an art scene, and put a geographical place back on the map. How would you apply this thought to a city like Porto mostly known in the art world for the Serralves Foundation?
U.C.F.C—» There is no revival at all. There is more information circulating and we are much more aware of the amount of artist-run spaces (in their very different shapes and scales, geographies and economies). It is true that certain projects can be highly inspirational for coming projects. It is also possible that nowadays there are more artist-run spaces in the world than ever, but so there is more everything.
If one takes the artist-run initiatives as a cool revival, a trend or a way to bring focus into a place, then its thinking is wrong. There might be many reasons to bring up a project, as there are attitudes and ways to run it. We believe, and expect, that artist run initiatives happen because of a need among its actors and the community. Very often, it all happens in a very closed circuit and artists, producers and public are the same people. It is all about the real spot, not about the spot in the map. This is the way an art scene starts to exist, or easily extinguishes.
It is not the single presence of an institution in a place that produces an art scene. Just because there is an artist run space does not mean the art scene is more interesting. The thing, or the scene, or the city, has to have multiple layers and actors otherwise it is just a poor city...or scene, or thing.

L.B.R—» How would you describe Porto’s art scene compared to Lisbon?
U.C.F.C—»Take the New York and Los Angeles scenes as an example and transpose it to the Portuguese scale (laugh).  We just don't know which city corresponds to Porto or Lisbon.
There are wide open channels between the two cities and we don't believe in closed art scenes. It has more to do with one’s network, and so for Uma Certa Falta de Coerência, "its scene" is partially overlapped with "the scene" of many other cities.
At the same, when comparing artistic productions and social relations between the two cities, one can also find walls and cleavages − politics and aesthetics, economics and bureaucracy, Lisbon is sunny and bright, Porto is cloudy and rainy, but this means little. Or not. Lisbon is paved with "calçada portuguesa" which is decorated and can be very slippery. Porto's main texture is granite, a rough stone that produces friction and easily wears out the best shoe´s sole. Palaces and wide streets are also more common in Lisbon. Yes, it is possible that these characteristics shape those living there, and the way they relate.

L.B.R—» What major changes did you perceive in Porto those past ten years? How does this affect the way artist do art and the public see art there?
U.C.F.C—» All changes in ten years.
After 2001, the city faced twelve years of an anti-cultural investment from the City Hall. The following Mayor, with a low budget and better design, managed to bring a much more dynamic attitude to the city − here's a tribute to Paulo Cunha e Silva (1962-2015), deputy for culture.
Another major change came from abroad as Porto became a hot destination for tourists. The once empty and depressed old city center became packed with hotels, guest houses, bars, restaurants and gourmet shops − closing many local and traditional shops. Some praise this new lively city, and some feel sad, as knowing that a change was urgent, the "Harry Potter meets Port wine" theme park was not the best solution. Gentrification is taking place and we took part of it. Much has changed since we open at Rua dos Caldeireiros − neighbors, business and street pavement.
Among the many tourists we find some who, knowing nothing before, don't fear to enter our gallery space. Some engage with curiosity. We have no stats' records but the number of visitors might have not changed. We didn't dare to start taxing entrance or raising prices.
Porto is now branded as "cool", and young people is settling in Porto, or at least, not wishing madly to leave. But the city is wider than its center and you can still find depressed areas.
All this affects the artistic production, but in which way, we will only realize this later.

L.B.R—» Why, as individual artists, did you choose to stay in Porto?
U.C.F.C—» There is such a sense of belonging that makes "the choice" not a choice, that it comes with no need to justification. In the same way when one chooses a big city to live, no one asks for a justification. The possibility of existing places where the presence of an artist is taken as weird or in need for justification is scary. Often, the "why not?" is more interesting than the "Why?".


http://www.labellerevue.org/en/global-terroir/porto/entretien-avecandre-sousaet-mauro-cerqueiramembres-deuma-certa-faltade-coerencia

NOTES NA 6 TYGODNI


Dear Ada,
here's the quick replies. Ther's more to say but
please, say something when published.
best regards…
andré and mauro

Why do you see a necessity of running an independent art space? 
Running an independent and non-funded art space it's not a need but a will. It is not necessary at all. It's rather an indulgence, a luxury. 

What is the main purpose of this activity?
The main purpose of Uma Certa Falta de Coerência (A Certain Lack of Coherence) is to bring people together around artists solo projects and to explore the relations between artists while they take control of the different roles: artist-artist, artist-producer, artist-public, artist-supporter, artist-reviewer, and so on. Remember, “Artists must begin helping themselves”.* But we're far from playing the musical chairs game. The neighborhood also also receives our radiations.
Since the beginning we've challenged artists to work and explore the very specific characteristics and conditions of our gallery space and its surroundings.  To test and state our running model is a purpose by it self.

How do you function?
Decisions are made on a daily practice when in the studio, at the café, walking down the street or via Skype. The gallery space opens on Saturdays or by appointment. We highly avoid the professionalization of the project. We share the process with the artist. We get things done for fun.

What are the difficulties you have to face and what are the obstacles you avoid by running your own space?
Managing time and travels are not such a big issue to call it difficulty.
We don’t have a main objective as popularity, budget or new venue.
We totally avoid paper work: we don’t apply to funds; we pay a low rent but there's no contract; we pay for electricity under the previous name in the contract; there is no commercial activity.
We also don't do what is not necessary. An example is cleaning or renovating the old and moisty space. Any change in the space it has to be introduced by a will from the artist. We could paint it white or yellow… but only if necessary.

How do you see the future of independent art spaces in Europe?
We’ve seen very different models of independent art spaces and we’re sure that every of these dreams of a different future. From our insider and non-academic point of view, the future of independent art spaces in Europe is not much different from the one of Italian restaurants.

Is there a tradition of self-organisation among Portuguese artists?
It is a fact that since 1999, and with a peak in 2007, there have been an outstanding number of artist-run activities in Porto. Strong echoes and important projects also happened in Lisbon and Guimarães.

NOT TODAY




Dear Yichiu,

here's our reply to your questions.
soon you'll receive the images and it's captions list by wetransfer.com
please let us know when published
best,
André and Mauro

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1. The origin:
What made you start A certain lack of coherence? Why did you choose this location and what was its function?

2. The activity:
What kind of works have you done with this space? What was the most identifying moment of it and why?

3. The environment:
What's the relationship of this space and the city? What makes the space stand as it is now?

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A Certain Lack of Coherence follows a recent tradition of artist run spaces in Porto. The reason behind the project is our will and a belief on self-organized structures. Naming the project after Jimmie Durham’s book was an indirect way to quote his article “Artists must begin helping themselves” and bring awareness, poetics and freedom as tools to deal with the real. In early 2008 Porto’s city centre was empty, it’s population ageing and it’s night comparable to a ghost city. It’s location on a popular neighborhood and in a building with poor conditions (humidity, water leaks, no ventilation and a bad electricity system) is a way to challenge artists and their productions to face this reality.

For a few years closed, the space was once restaurant and later a bazaar run by an Indian emigrant. Opening again this old shop’s door and revealing a succession of five continuous rooms, with no windows nor vertical walls and covered with varied textures, was like revealing a cave in the city and allowing the “art community” - so often used to the whitest walls and sleekest floors - to get to know this reality. Note that there are people living on the top floors of the same building.

The space has always seduced us by what it is, not by what it could be turned into. This way, we’ve never made transformations other than the ones needed by the artists. We do the same with cleaning. Here textures change slowly:  either if we’re talking about a fungus growing or a wall being painted white. It’s not only laziness. How can one act in such a context – the gallery space or the popular neighborhood – without introducing an immediate and radical change? We want to play with local knowledge and history.

Within the same time span the context has changed and in 2014 adjacent streets became city’s nightlife area and local business shifted to restaurants, bars and gourmet shops. More and more tourists arrive every day.

Pointing an identifying moment in our exhibitions history goes against what we've always aimed at. Our project and our relation with art is only definable by the diversity of our programme with all its unity or contradictions. Local, national, international, young, mid-career, old but fresh, unknown, established or famous artists have taken part in this project, always with equally high commitment.

A Certain Lack of Coherence has an impact, albeit small, on the closest local community. This was anchieved together with confidence and loyalty. The art community (either local or international) is involved and aware.
The space stands on it’s own. Its structure is organic and anti-professional, there is no formal or legal identity and it runs on the lowest possible budget. Again, only our will can bring an end to this project. Well, also the new landlord has a certain hand.


André Sousa and Mauro Cerqueira,
May 2014
QUAL O SEGREDO PARA CHEGAR AOS 100 ANOS?
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What's the secret to reach 100 years old?
UM SISMO TAMBÉM É UM "ISMO"?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LA COMUNE AUJOURD'HUI?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
...TINTA PODRE? ...TINTA PODRE?
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Rotten paint? ...rotten paint?!
QUAL A PRÓXIMA PERGUNTA?
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What's the next question?
O QUE É FEITO DA CASA DAS ARTES?
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What happened to Casa das Artes?
A CIDADE ESTÁ EM RUÍNAS?
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Is the city ruined?

Ir ao mercado está na moda?

IR AO MERCADO ESTÁ NA MODA?
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Is it fashionable to go to the market?