The exhibition “Between the Word and the Silence — Works from the José Carlos Santana Pinto Collection,” curated by Adelaide Ginga, is showcasing a private collection for the first time at MACAM. This extensive collection, amassed over more than four decades, will be on display until June 1, 2026, according to the museum.
The selection reflects the collector’s focus on formal economy, the dialogue between word and critical thought, and the coexistence of Portuguese and international artists, according to the curator.
The collection highlights the search for conceptual and aesthetic relationships across different mediums, reinforcing the idea that beauty should provoke inquiry and propose questions, she added.
With this event, MACAM is launching a series of collaborations with collectors who lack public spaces to exhibit their collections, aiming to broaden perspectives on contemporary art and strengthen the museum’s role as a hub for artists, collectors, and the public.
The exhibition includes works by On Kawara, Dora Garcia, Alfredo Jaar, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Carla Filipe, and João Onofre, among others.
Simultaneously, MACAM will unveil “The Self as Multiple,” curated by Carolina Quintela, a reflection on identity as an ever-evolving space, running until May 4, 2026. This marks the third temporary exhibition from the Armando Martins Collection.
In the curatorial text, Carolina Quintela emphasizes that the exhibition addresses issues related to figuration and imagination, advocating for a non-linear view of identity where multiplicity, openness, and plurality are central to understanding the contemporary subject.
“The Self as Multiple” features works by Portuguese and foreign artists such as Ana Vieira, Helena Almeida, Horácio Frutuoso, John Baldessari, José Pedro Croft, Juan Muñoz, Júlia Ventura, Vik Muniz, and Yu Nishimura.
Opened in March this year, the project brings together the Armando Martins Contemporary Art Museum and a five-star hotel, occupying the historic Palácio Condes da Ribeira Grande, which underwent renovation and refurbishment, located between Alcântara and Belém in Lisbon.
