Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa (part 1)

The title of this exhibition draws inspiration from the celebrated song by Amália Rodrigues, a timeless icon of fado and Portuguese culture. While the song warns against Lisbon being overtaken by foreign influences, specifically French culture, it is, above all, a call to preserve Portuguese identity and roots. This reference serves as a metaphor for a city that, despite its openness to the world, strives to maintain its essence and singularity in the face of modernity and globalization.

Bringing together the works of 13 artists, Portuguese and international, Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa offers a multifaceted portrait of Lisbon, seen through the eyes of those who live and create there. Across  diverse mediums, from sculpture and painting to photography and video installation, the exhibition explores the tension between tradition and transformation, heritage and reinvention. Each work acts as a fragment of Lisbon, capturing its layered histories, its shifting landscapes, and the contemporary forces reshaping its identity.

This exhibition is the first part of a two-part exchange between Lisbon and Paris, a Saison Croisée between the two capitals. While Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa takes place at Atlas in Paris, a parallel exhibition will be held in a Lisbon at the gallery, showcasing the work of French artists currently living and working in Paris. This initiative seeks to introduce the contemporary French art scene to a Portuguese audience, fostering dialogue between the artistic communities of both cities.

Through this dual exhibition, Lisbon and Paris are brought into conversation, not in opposition, but in resonance. Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa invites visitors to explore how cities shape artists, how identities evolve through cultural exchange, and how art serves as a bridge between past and future, tradition and reinvention.

Participating artists (Atlas | Paris) :
Clara Imbert (FR), Francisco Trêpa (PT), Gabriel Ribeiro (BR), Hugo Cantegrel (FR), Luísa Salvador (PT), Manon Harrois (FR), Manuel Tainha (PT), Márcio Vilela (BR), Maria Appleton (PT), Mia Dudek (PL), Nádia Duvall (PT), Pauline Guerrier (FR), Rudolfo Quintas (PT).

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Opening March 20th at L’Atlas | 4, cour de l’Île Louviers 75004

Imagined and initiated by Emerige, L’Atlas welcomes galleries, foundations, and international institutions to showcase one or more artists from contemporary art scenes that are underrepresented in France.

In partnership with these key players in the global contemporary art world, L’Atlas offers an innovative model: a joint curatorship of five annual exhibitions between Emerige’s artistic projects department and the invited partner. These exhibitions are complemented by a cultural program, as well as guided tours and educational workshops designed for a wide audience.