Brussels, Jan. 20, 2021 (Lusa) - Twenty works by Portuguese artists will be on display in Brussels until 15 June as part of the programme of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union, underlining the "fundamental value of freedom for democracy", according to the curator, David Santos.

The exhibition, which opened on Wednesday, is entitled "Freedom and Europe: A construction for all", and is organised under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union, by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage and the European Parliament, curated by David Santos, curator of the State Contemporary Art Collection.

Twenty works by Portuguese artists were selected, ten from the State Contemporary Art Collection, and another ten from the European Parliament Contemporary Art Collection, in an exhibition that brings together artists such as Helena Almeida, Vieira da Silva, Paula Rego, Eduardo Batarda, Julião Sarmento, Lourdes Castro, Fernando Calhau, Rui Sanches, Rui Chafes, Ilda David, Pedro Proença, Pedro Calapez, Jorge Martins and António Charrua.

"It's an exhibition that shows some of the best pieces from the State Contemporary Art Collection, together with works of great importance, and great artistic importance, of Portuguese artists represented in the European Parliament Collection", explained the curator, that Lusa contacted.

The inauguration was attended by the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa, and the president of the European Parliament, David-Maria Sassoli, who praised the concept on which the exhibition was based - freedom - because "it has to do directly with Europe".

"I chose this concept because it is based on the idea of post-war peace and freedom in Europe and for the Portuguese in the post-revolution of 25 April", the curator told Lusa, who admittedly wanted to "make a contribution" to the evocation of this right "which the Portuguese hold in high esteem and want to maintain".

Santos considered it important, "at a time when there is increasing talk of the growth of the far-right, to highlight this value of democratic societies and its significance for the construction of the European Union, and in the defence of Portugal's political system".

To illustrate this idea, he selected emblematic works by Portuguese artists, such as "Enlevo de Miss Europa" (1973), by Nikias Skapinakis, on the myth of the abduction of Europe, and the poster by Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, alluding to the 25th of April, with the title "Liberdade", one of the works that most directly evokes this "founding concept of the construction and union of Europe".

Portugal took over the presidency of the European Union on 1 January under the slogan "Time to act", chosen as a guiding strategy during the first half of the year, and will be followed by Slovenia.

AG/ADB // ADB.

Lusa