Oporto is an artist-run-space located in the historical center of Lisbon, occupying the former Merchant Sailors Union Headquarters. Oporto presents a single projection of unique experimental video or film. This exquisite and extremely slow program features screenings from a wide range of artists as well as experimental film classics. The space is directed by artist Alexandre Estrela in collaboration with designers and associate program managers António Gomes and Claudia Castelo (a.k.a. Barbara Says), and artist Miguel Soares.

In 2007, the last few members of Lisbon’s Merchant Sailors Union agreed to rent the main room of their headquarters. They agreed with artist Alexandre Estrela that he could use the room as he saw fit as long as the dignity of their space was maintained.

Being at the epicenter of what used to be a large organization, the Merchant Sailors Union´s room displays many signs of ancient Portuguese naval glories, from the old “Argonautic” saga to the antifascist struggle. This room, a small theater comprised of a mezzanine, a stage with a counter, and fifty chairs, was filled with marine paraphernalia and murals painted by a sailor, M. A. Santos. This sailor used the Union as hideout during the dictatorship, just before fleeing to America in the forties. In exchange for shelter, he painted the room with murals portraying Lisbon’s harbor, mythological figures, such as mermaids and giants, as well as the Portuguese merchant fleet, its sailors and important local shipwrecks.

Overwhelmed by the space and its old ship atmosphere, Estrela invited the design studio Barbara Says and the artist Miguel Soares to share it as a studio and set sail. They opened it to friends for sporadic experimental film and video screenings. These sessions, entitled Oporto in an obvious reference to the Merchant Sailor’s Union (“Porto” means harbour), involved the projection of a single piece, film or video. For each session a silk-screened poster, specially designed by Barbara Says, frames the spirit of the evening. Since 2007 these presentations have become regular, and Oporto has gathered a group of faithful followers.

After three years of existence Oporto is now moving towards new waters, to diversify activitiesto incorportate a series of lectures and presentations in the realm of fine arts, publications and editorial work.

Oporto aims to create time and space for the full appreciation of eccentric works that succeed each other in a chain of missing links. The highly eclectic program has included old classics such as Living by Franz Zwartjes, 3 Gläser, by Lutz Mommartz, and Unedited Material from the star, by John Latham, as well as visionary works like the wildlife opera Nature, by R. Stevie Moore, or the cryptic, Matematica, by Vasco Lucena. Each piece is presented in its original format, from 16mm film to VHS videotapes.

The film program set by Alexandre Estrela could be described as a “a chain of singular objects that in the context of the room resonate unpredictably”. In other words the program reflects a highly subjective point of view enhanced by the specificities of the room.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

Oporto#17 – Unedited Material From The Star, John Latham, December 2009
Oporto#13 – Diwan, Werner Nekes, March 2009
Oporto#11 – Matemática, Vasco lucena, December 2008
Oporto#8 – Natur, R. Stevie Moore, June 2008
Oporto#6 – Island Song, Charlemagne Palestine, April 2008

Some screenings have been honored with the presence of the artists. Previously these have included; Daragh Reeves, Charlemagne Palestine, Werner Nekes, Liliane Lijn or Negativeland, who provided insightful views of their work through discussions with the audience and parallel performances and lectures.

For each session Barbara Says designs a poster that fits an old frame found in the space. Each poster contains elements of the film overimposed onto an image of Lisbon’s harbor taken from one of Oporto’s murals. The poster embodies the atmosphere of the film when exposed to Oporto’s environment.