CAM’s 40th anniversary, Japanese art and a balloon flying over Lisbon – Observer

What if, suddenly, the giant face of a woman hovered in the skies over Lisbon? Strange as it may seem, this is exactly what will happen over the next few days and is all part of the artistic installation entitled “Masayume” (‘Dream that becomes real’, in Portuguese translation), a project of great visual impact created by the collective by Mé artists, consisting of Haruka Kojin, Kenji Minamigawa and Hirofumi Masui, which will be shown outside of Japan for the first time. With around 25 meters in diameter, it is a hot air balloon that will be launched during the next few days in Praça do Comércio (July 21st), Jardim da Torre de Belém (July 22nd) and Alameda D. Afonso Henriques (July 23rd). The moment serves as a motto for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Gulbenkian Modern Art Center (CAM), which will (re)open its doors in the first half of next year, after a period closed for reconversion works.

In addition to this impressive installation, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation presents a program dedicated to Japanese contemporary art entitled “Engawa”, a concept word that is at the basis of the project by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma for the CAM building, and which designates a passage space made in wood, both interior and exterior, characteristic of traditional Japanese houses. Bringing together different collaborations with artists and cultural institutions in the city of Lisbon, the season, which brings together performance, music and various installations, also serves as a way to symbolize the historical connection between Portugal and Japan, as well as the many cultural ties that motivate this dialogue. unusual between the two countries.

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