2023 was a long year of closing cycles, unpacking projects and starting again. So let’s go back to 2019, this year I created JOIA Ourivesaria de Sentimentos with my partner Julia Da Costa, a project that started as an atelier and gallery, the project progressed but with the arrival of COVID it had to be readapted, we opened an online store we closed a physical store and in August 2020 I reopened the project, There were more exhibitions and projects, we opened a tattoo studio in the basement and held events, more than 60 artists of different nationalities, 21 exhibitions between Solo and Collective, 3 editions of a catalog magazine FRESTA (keep that name), 13 tattoo guests 3 events for the community and 5 points of culture, 4 in Lisbon and one in Porto. In 2023 there was a construction project in our street that would not allow artists and clients to pass through. So we closed down. What have I learned? I’ve learned how to manage adversity, how to observe, how to dialog with art mediators and the public. We closed down because we couldn’t find affordable rent in Lisbon to reopen. We closed because we understood our limits.
I produced much less, taking care of all this took up a lot of my days. I confess that my wish was to have created a productive network between artists and to have grown it into an association, but I couldn’t find any interested groups.
It took a few months of preparation to adapt to new scenarios.
In August 2023, we had already closed JOIA and there was an opening to start a new project, so IT’S FFFRESH was born, a Pop Up gallery with a print publisher and limited series. IT’S FFFRESH‘s project is curated by 16 artists, a more closed curatorship, with original and limited works. This project has allowed me to slowly return to producing and, at the same time, to continue applying my 4-year apprenticeship at JOIA.
The gallery is open during wine bar opening hours, and every Wednesday we have an evening dedicated to art and illustration called – FFFRESH UP find out more information here .
Since January 24, 2024, I got the license to operate a newsstand in Lisbon and I wanted to have a space, since with IT’S FFFRESH we are a PoP up gallery but we don’t have our own space and we wanted to explore other formats, so FRESTA – VISUAL CULTURE UNFOLD was born, (you remember I said to keep that name) This proposal fits more with zines, artist books, posters and originals at an affordable price.
At FRESTA I created the character PAPER BOY, a newsstand attendant.
So… Did you run out of time again?
I’m freer, I’ve had more inspiration.
So much so that I’m posting to let you know that I’ll be writing about news, exhibitions and productions here every now and again.)
And for everyone who wants to buy my work, I’ll soon be putting up a page with all the places and websites.
Thanks for all your support,
Vital Lordelo
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