Foco Gallery is pleased to present “Chest against the back” by Manuel Tainha for its second participation in Artissima. Following his last solo exhibition at the gallery, adapted to the scale of an art fair, the stand showcases the artist’s explorations into drawing, sculpture and textile painting.
Tainha’s artistic exploration intricately examines composition through the interplay of various processes, whether it be the dynamics of addition/subtraction or the juxtaposition of the bidimensional and the objectual. Central to his creative process are themes such as the cultural significance of materials, the constraints of limitation, the intensity of violence in creation, and reflections on domestic conditions.
The exhibition “Chest against the back” stems from the ongoing interest of the artist in the relations between form and forces in domestic and industrial materials. In this specific exhibition, the focus is on the Bairro dos Olivais urbanistic project, which emerged in the mid-1950s on the periphery of Lisbon, blending elements of industry and agriculture in its development. Of special note is Tainha’s specific attraction to Vale do Silencio park and the unfinished part of the urban project, where the interplay of void and plain serves as a compelling composition for the artist.
At the Turin exhibition center, Tainha navigates the boundaries between different mediums, scales, and tensions. He engages with the unique cultural and spatial context of the studio space, factory environments, and gallery space.