Sérgio Leitão 2023

Sérgio Leitão
THE FALLOUT
April 1 to May 6 2023

Over three residencies at Uillinn (2021/2022/2023), Portuguese artist Sérgio Leitão will develop an exhibition spanning both galleries at Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre. The title of this contextualmixed media installation is IN GIRUM_THE FALLOUT, which relates a famous palindrome in Latin, In girum imus nocteet consumimur igni, and roughly translates as “We go round and roundat night and are consumed by fire”. In the Middle Ages, the phrase was attributed a magical power because, if transcribed on a parchment and then burned, it would have led to the discovery of the formula of the philosopher’s stone. The exhibition addresses Skibbereen’s past and present contexts, from the 1631 Sack of Baltimore, that led to development of the Capital of the Carberies (a video entitled How This is Different From Westphalia_Islands II), to a colourful and vibrant town (as presented in the whole installation), including found graphic elements and objects as well as different productionand research tools, as is current in the artist’s practice.

Leitão’s work seeks to explore connections between different fields of knowledge, from art and architecture, to literature, philosophy and history, among other territories, while aiming to establish a dialogue with the specific contexts of presentation. His projects are frequently materialized into mixed media installations, at the intersection of sculpture, painting and video, as well as autonomous pieces in several media, sculptural interventions in public spaces and performances. His research and context-based works have been presented in the scope of curatorial projects taking place in contemporary art museums, galleries and project spaces, as well as in factories, libraries, convents, power stations, railroad buildings, archaeological sites, parks, among other venues.

Sérgio Leitão (b. Monte Estoril, Portugal) holds a Degree in Fine Arts (ESAP) and a PhD in Visual Arts (FBAPv / UVIGO). He attended the Independent Visual Arts Program (MAUMAUS),  the Gasthof Program (STÄDELSCHULE), as well as Sculpture / Photography (ARCO) and Video Art (GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION) programs.

WCAC acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Cork County Council in making these residencies possible.