The Engineering of Necessity

Gabriel Chaile

30 – 31 August 2024

MNAC - Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado e Estúdio do Artista, Lisboa

Summer School Workshop

In this workshop, Chaile shares his artistic journey and practice, between the idea of ‘social sculpture’ and performance. During two days, at MNAC and in his Studio, the artist will address issues relating to the functionality of the precarious, sustainability, co-operativism, decolonialism and all kinds of social projects.

©Bruno Simão

Chaile develops his anthropological and visual research based on two key concepts that run through his work. They are: the ‘engineering of necessity’, which consists of creating, through art, objects and structures that collaborate in improving the conditions of a given limit situation; and the ‘genealogy of form’, which implies assuming that each object, in its historical repetition, carries with it a story to tell, which is recovered and updated in relation to a new context. The artist uses both axioms to create sculptures, make paintings, construct large-scale installations and performative actions that make visible and give voice to different communities that have been overshadowed by history and power structures.

In this workshop, Chaile shares his artistic journey and practice, between the concepts of ‘engineering of necessity’, ‘social sculpture’ and performance. During two days, at MNAC and in his Studio, the artist will address issues relating to the functionality of the precarious, sustainability, co-operativism, decolonialism and all kinds of social projects.

©Bruno Simão

Biography

One of the most dynamic artists of his generation, Gabriel Chaile (1985, Tucumán, Argetina) has a degree in Visual Arts from the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. In 2009 he received a scholarship from the Fundación YPF, which enabled him to take part in the first edition of the Artists’ Programme launched by the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. In 2010, he was selected to take part in Lipac, an art programme at the Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas.

Attentive to issues of anthropology, post-colonial theory and Conceptual Art, Chaile produces sculptures from natural materials and found objects that bring new life to contemporary South American art – creations that have an impact on space, relationships and communities, and bring people together with the sacred rituals of food and sharing.

The artistic relevance of his creative and anthropological approach has been recognised worldwide, and Chaile’s work has been exhibited and praised for its powerful impressions in various museums and institutions in America and Europe. His latest works include ‘Time, Times, and Half a Time’ (Barro, New York, USA, 2023), ‘Migrants Are Welcome’ (Kunsthalle Lissabon, Lisbon, 2022), ‘Sonia’ (El ondulatorio, La Rioja, 2018); ‘Proto’, a film by Gabriel Chaile (Galería Ruby, Buenos Aires, 2017); ‘Patricia’, curated by Laura Hackel (Museo de Arte Moderno, Buenos Aires, 2017); “Mi nombre es legión porque somos muchos” (Centro Cultural San Pablo T, Tucumán, 2016); “No es culpa mía si viene del río” (Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires, 2015); ‘Salir del surco al labrar la tierra, delirios de grandeza II’ (Fondo Nacional de las Artes, Buenos Aires, 2014).

Sessions

30 – 31.08.24

MNAC - Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado e Estúdio do Artista, Lisboa

11:00 – 13:00, 14:30 – 18:30
Target audience
M/16
Students, visual and performing arts professionals and people interested in the proposed themes.
Participation fee*
Normal: 60 €
-30 years: 40 €
GDA Foundation Co-operating Artists: 30 €
Registration
Closed
Refund policy
Registration for BoCA Summer School workshops does not entitle you to a refund. In the event of withdrawal, valid until 20 August, participants will be credited with the amount to apply to another workshop in the current edition of the BoCA Summer School.
Adicional information
30 August: National Museum of Contemporary Art in Chiado (MNAC)
31 August: Artist’s studio, next to the RTP studio (accessible from Chelas or Olivais metro station). The full address will be made available to those who have registered.