Noites Brancas 1982

Editor: So, this mixed-media collage, "Noites Brancas" by Julião Sarmento from 1982, is really striking. The figurative element is rendered in stark black ink and yet the overall impression is so open and layered. How do you read it? Curator: Julião has always been a bit of a whisperer, hasn't he? I mean, here he presents this… well, it’s clearly an intimate scene, sketched with a kind of dreamy carelessness. But then the collage elements at the bottom— are they interruptions? Annotations? They feel like snippets of consciousness intruding upon a fleeting moment. What about you? Do you find a similar feeling? Editor: Absolutely, almost like fragments of memories disrupting the present, and adding different perspectives or… possibilities? Curator: Yes! That is spot on! Exactly, and Julião often uses this kind of juxtaposition to evoke the unspoken. "Noites Brancas"—White Nights—that title adds a layer too, doesn't it? Think of insomnia, restless introspection. Those sleepless nights where everything feels heightened, fractured, and raw. Maybe that's what he's getting at here. Are there other elements that suggest further interpretations? Editor: The contrast in textures. The almost brutal charcoal strokes against the smooth, pasted surfaces makes it raw but thoughtful. Curator: A perfect contrast: delicate rawness and calculated reflection. Beautifully said. See how much a piece of art speaks, with just ink, paper, and a thoughtful arrangement. Editor: This was helpful to notice these thoughtful gestures to expand beyond first glances. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! To look closely is to truly see. Now go forth and interpret the world!