Who was Fernando Lanhas?
Fernando Resende da Silva Magalhães Lanhas was born in Porto, on September 16, 1923, and graduated in Architecture at the Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto in 1947. In addition to his career as an architect, he was involved in several professional areas, such as painting, archaeology, museology and astronomy. Fernando Lanhas was one of the active organizers of the Independent Exhibitions between 1944 and 1950 and a pioneer of Abstract Art in Portugal. He represented Portugal in several editions of the Venice and São Paulo Biennials. In 1977, he was appointed Secretary General of the "Geography of Color" Exhibition at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris. Fernando Lanhas has received several awards throughout his career, including the Grande Premio Amadeu de Souza-Cardoso in 1997 and the Premio CELPA-Vieira da Silva Visual Arts Consecrated in 2000. He passed away on February 4, 2012, in the city of Porto.
The stylistic evolution of Fernando Lanhas
Fernando Lanhas' artistic trajectory over the years has been marked by a notable stylistic evolution. From his first experiences with figurative representation to his foray into total abstraction, Fernando Lanhas demonstrated a constant desire to explore and experiment with new forms of artistic expression.
In the first years of his training at the Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto, Fernando Lanhas dedicated himself mainly to landscape and figure studies, following the mimetic tradition of Western painting. However, Fernando Lanhas quickly turned to other artistic horizons, in search of his own distinctive language.
One of the premonitory works of the rupture to come was "O cais", from 1944, in which Fernando Lanhas demonstrated a formal and chromatic purification in relation to his previous works. This search for simplification and abstraction culminated in one of his most celebrated works, "O2-43-44", begun in 1943 and completed in 1944. This emblematic painting reveals essential characteristics of his mature work, such as the total two-dimensionality of the image, the autonomy of color surfaces and the left-handed and inverted construction of the painting.
Over the years, Fernando Lanhas continued to evolve his visual language, exploring new techniques and materials. In 1945, Fernando Lanhas established original chromatic criteria, developed from dried samples of pebbles from the river and Foz. This unique chromatic palette was later abandoned by the artist, who felt that it "industrialized" color.
During the 1940s, Fernando Lanhas alternated totally abstract works with others in which representation still survived, serving as a test bed for his future language. For example, in landscapes such as "Birds and Rocks" and "Sun and Figure", as well as in portraits such as "Woman in the Hat", the lines that cross the image tend to become autonomous, opening a tending to be uninterrupted development in two-dimensional space.
The tension between representation and abstraction that characterized Fernando Lanhas' early years was resolved in 1949, when he began his long series of lithic paintings, in which he painted directly on pebbles. These simple shapes carved into the stones became aestheticized artifacts, acquiring the status of art. This exploration of new supports and materials reflects Lanhas’ constant desire to reinvent himself and experiment with new forms of expression.
Fernando Lanhas' stylistic evolution throughout his career reflects not only a search for new artistic expressions, but also a desire to transcend the conventional limits of figurative representation. His foray into abstraction and his use of unconventional materials demonstrate his constant creative restlessness and his search for a unique and personal visual language.
What are the creative aspects of Fernando Lanhas?
Fernando Lanhas' work explores non-figurative painting as a means of transforming and appropriating reality. Since 1943, he participated in national exhibitions of modern and abstract art, which distinguished his work from the neo-realist vocabulary prevalent at the time. His painting is characterized by a stylistic unity, with tense and broken lines that repeat and organize patches of warm and cold colors on a plane support. Fernando Lanhas uses a chromatic range that alludes to the colors of minerals, often using the minerals themselves as pigment. His abstract paintings are often given technical designations, such as "O.32-60", representing oil, work number thirty-two, created in 1960.
What are the characteristics of Fernando Lanhas’ works?
Fernando Lanhas' painting is abstract and characterized by broad, almost mechanical lines that structure the perceptual field. These lines delimit areas and take on the function of signs, giving a graphic quality to his work. The careful choice of color palette, generally in soft tones and a range of grays and ochres, contributes to the subtle and expressive atmosphere of his paintings. His geometric compositions explore the relationship between shapes and colors, creating a unique visual dynamic. The title given to each work also plays an important role, identifying the technique used and the work number, adding a conceptual dimension to the work.
Fernando Lanhas's works have several distinctive characteristics. Here are some of the main characteristics of his works:- Abstraction: Fernando Lanhas' art is predominantly abstract, which means he does not represent recognizable objects or realistic figures in his paintings. Instead, he focused on expressing ideas, emotions, and sensations through abstract shapes, colors, and compositions.
- Lines and Geometric Shapes: Fernando Lanhas used lines and geometric shapes in his paintings to create structures and organize the pictorial space. Lines can be wide, thin, straight or curved, and often have a graphic or almost mechanical character.
- Expressive Colors: Fernando Lanhas' color palette is carefully selected and contributes to the atmosphere and expressiveness of his works. Fernando Lanhas uses a color range that can vary from soft and subtle tones to more intense and vibrant colors. The use of colors is essential to convey emotions and create visual dynamics in your paintings.
- Descriptive Titles: Fernando Lanhas's works are often identified by technical titles that describe the technique used and the work number. These titles add a conceptual dimension to the work and can provide clues about the artist's creative process or intent.
- Stylistic Unit: Although there are variations in his work over time, Fernando Lanhas' paintings generally display a recognizable stylistic unity. His works have a distinct visual identity, with recurring elements, such as tense and broken lines, balanced compositions and a sensitive approach to the use of color. These are just some of the characteristics of Fernando Lanhas' works. His art is multifaceted and has evolved throughout his career, exploring different techniques and concepts. His abstract paintings are highly valued for their originality, expressiveness and contribution to the Portuguese art scene.
What were Fernando Lanhas’ influences?
Fernando Lanhas was influenced by different artistic and intellectual currents throughout his career. Here are some of the most significant influences on his work:- International Abstract Art: Fernando Lanhas was one of the pioneers of abstract art in Portugal. He was in contact with international abstract currents, such as Constructivism, Neoplasticism and Geometric Abstractionism. These artistic currents, originating from movements such as Suprematism and Russian Constructivism, influenced his abstract style and geometric approach.
- European Vanguards: Fernando Lanhas was aware of 20th century European artistic avant-gardes, including Cubism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. These innovative and revolutionary artistic movements had an impact on his understanding of art and helped shape his individual style.
- Modern architecture: As an architect by training, Fernando Lanhas was also influenced by the principles and ideas of modern architecture. He was familiar with rationalist and functionalist aesthetics, which value simplicity, geometry and the integration between form and function. This influence is reflected in the spatial organization and structure of his artistic works.
- Nature and Landscape: Nature and landscape, especially rocks and pebbles, played an important role in Fernando Lanhas's works. His experience in archeology and his interest in geology led him to explore the shapes, textures and colors found in nature. He sought to capture the essence and energy of these natural elements in his paintings.
- Exhibitions and International Exchanges: Fernando Lanhas' participation in international exhibitions, such as the Venice and São Paulo Biennials, provided the opportunity to come into contact with artists and contemporary trends from around the world. These experiences enriched his artistic repertoire and broadened his creative horizon. These combined influences have shaped Fernando Lanhas' unique style and creative approach. He knew how to assimilate different artistic currents and create his own visual language, contributing to the national and international artistic scene.
Fernando Lanhas: The relationship between art and science
Fernando Lanhas demonstrated a remarkable relationship between art and science in his work, going beyond mere thematic inspiration and using scientific elements as a means of exploring and understanding life and the universe. His interdisciplinary approach contributed to a unique vision of art, characterized by an incessant search for knowledge and exploration of the complexities of the world.
For Fernando Lanhas, science was not just a field separate from art, but rather a resource to be used together. Fernando Lanhas saw science as a tool that could help him penetrate the most intimate secrets of life and the universe, allowing him to take additional steps on his never-ending creative journey.
However, it is important to highlight that Fernando Lanhas did not see himself as a scientist, but rather as an artist who used science in the same way he used art. Fernando Lanhas began studying science when he felt he could add something to his artistic journey. This unique approach allowed him to create works that transcended the conventional limits of art, expanding into new territories of exploration.
Fernando Lanhas, in his incessant search for knowledge of the world, established a profound relationship between art and science. Not only was he inspired by scientific themes for his works, but he also used science as a means of exploring and understanding life and the universe in his artistic practice.
This relationship between art and science manifested itself in several ways in the work of Fernando Lanhas. He incorporated scientific elements into his compositions, such as geometric shapes, mathematical patterns and astronomical references. In his paintings, often abstract, they presented a rigorous spatial organization, suggesting a scientific influence.
This interdisciplinary approach contributed to his unique vision of art and the creation of work that transcends the traditional boundaries of artistic expression. For Fernando Lanhas, art and science were complementary forms of knowledge, and the Portuguese artist used them together to uncover the secrets of existence.
What were Fernando Lanhas' contributions to Architecture?
In addition to his career as a painter, Fernando Lanhas also stood out as an architect. His architectural work fits into the rationalist trend of international derivation. Fernando Lanhas carried out several architectural projects, including renovations of museums, such as the museums of Paços de Ferreira, Paredes, Figueira da Foz and Porto. Fernando Lanhas also developed projects for housing, residential blocks and public buildings, which accompanied the expansion of the city of Porto in the 1960s and 1970s. His architecture reflects an urban consciousness and seeks a balance between tradition and renewal.
What is Fernando Lanhas' legacy?
Fernando Lanhas' professional legacy was donated to the Marques da Silva Foundation. The collection is made up of vast documentation, including architectural projects, panels, books, periodicals and dossiers related to different areas of interest to the artist, such as museology, archeology, astronomy, ethnography and heritage. The donation of the collection allows for a more systematic investigation into the least studied facet of Fernando Lanhas, providing access to unprecedented information that reveals his distinctive approach to architecture.
The collection is still in the process of technical treatment, but it is now possible to consult the Digital Archive of the Marques da Silva Foundation (FIMS) to obtain preliminary information. Soon, the collection will be publicly accessible in the FIMS Digital Archive and the bibliographic list can be consulted on the Aleph platform.
