International Center of Arts José de Guimarães

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Arts Centre

District: Braga > Guimarães > Guimarães > Oliveira, São Paio e São Sebastião

Location

The José de Guimarães International Arts Centre is integrated into the Platform of Arts and Creativity, a cultural complex situated in the Oliveira, São Paio, and São Sebastião area of Guimarães. This location revitalized the city's former Municipal Market, transforming it into a multifunctional hub dedicated to culture and art, seamlessly blending into the local urban fabric.

Concept and Architecture

This centre was born from the vision of the Pitágoras Arquitetos studio, responsible for the architectural project that transformed the old market. Their approach has received international recognition, earning the building several awards. Among these, the "Detail Prize 2012" from the German architecture magazine and the "Red Dot Design Award 2013" in the "Best of the Best" category stand out. Furthermore, the work was distinguished with the National Urban Rehabilitation Award, in the "Social Impact" category, and the "The Plan Award 2015" in the "Culture" category, attesting to its relevance both aesthetically and urbanistically.

Cultural Vocation

Inaugurated in 2012, in the context of Guimarães European Capital of Culture, the José de Guimarães International Arts Centre is dedicated to contemporary art, exploring the connections it establishes with artistic expressions from other eras, cultures, and disciplines. It functions as a true "cultural atlas," uniting and creating bridges between objects, images, and concepts from distant civilizations and places, promoting reflection on diversity as a pillar of human identity.

The José de Guimarães Collections

At the heart of this space lies a significant collection of works and pieces amassed by the artist José de Guimarães over nearly five decades. This unique collection includes African art, Pre-Columbian art, and ancient Chinese art, as well as creations by the artist himself and objects of popular, religious, and archaeological heritage. The exhibition invites the visitor on a symbolic journey that begins in the city of Guimarães, traverses civilizations from three continents with rich and complex cultures, and returns to the point of origin, fostering a broad and interconnected perspective on the global artistic landscape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt