By culture for all, about 70 people turned into … – Reuters

             

                     
                 

             

 
                     

About 70 people gathered on Sunday afternoon on the 3rd floor of the National Museum of Ancient Art (NMAA), in Lisbon, a performance and the universal manifestation and democratic access to culture . Protesters dressed in black and were static in dedicated to painting and sculpture rooms Portuguese imitating the poses of the works and repeating the phrase: “We are art on the art of mourning the art in the struggle for art.” Already in July, the same artist and a group occupied the Chiado Museum overnight.

                 

                      The act was drafted by photographer Rui Mourão, who you calling him “ performance artivista” and wanted to gather 73 people throughout the museum – reference to Article 73 of the Constitution on the role of state in the universality of education and culture, reads the press release. At the end of 20 minutes of this action, about 70 people went to the reception to ask for the complaint book for having paid ticket to enter a public museum on Sunday (from June to free entry to museums came into existence only in first Sunday of each month. In 2011 Francisco José Viegas had made public this hypothesis, which has since been put into practice by Jorge Barreto Xavier). The book was immediately available.

The protesters were coming in little by little and at 17h spread over the third floor. The concentration of people was greater in the Panels of São Vicente room: iam reciting the “mantra” created by Rui Mourão always with different intonations – shouting, whispering, by way of conversation. To the comments of surprised tourists, protesters responded translating that phrase into French and English.

The NMAA was prepared to receive the protest, as told PUBLIC António Filipe Pimentel, director of the museum. “We were aware because we have seen in the media. We did not do more preparation than usual: we were here to get everyone as we always do. Our concern was the safety of the collection and there is some risk to herself. There was, it all went civilly. “

This performance , which the artist says is a manifestation and simultaneously art or reducing the price of tickets to the museums and the restoration of free Sundays. “This is a model that is excluding people. There has been very little demand, as if culture were a luxury, “says Rui Morão the PUBLIC. “On a broader perspective, we demand the replacement of the Ministry of Culture and that, as recommended by UNESCO, to establish a minimum of 1% of the state budget for culture ‘, still reads the press release.

“With these reasons we are all supportive. I imagine that there is anyone who is not sympathetic to the financial problems of the sector and we feel here, “said the director of the NMAA. On the position of the museum as the free Sundays, added that “the museum competes not comment because it is a structure of the state,” said António José Pimentel.

PUBLIC Asked by thinking about how to bring these claims as organs Parliament or the Secretary of State for Culture, says Rui Mourão is not producing, for now, no document or petition or has been directed to these organs. “Our vehicle is the media,” he says, explaining that the group of people who joined the NMAA this is not a political organization, not even having a name -. “Are people who have joined me”

With this “action artivismo” whatever “artists realize they have been too passive: both are victims as responsible” and to demonstrate that “art can make someone gain a voice.” On the goals of 1% for culture and free Sundays, which Rui Mourão want is that “these issues do not die” and that “people will hear this and become aware.” “It’s another voice, another initiative,” he explains.

Rui Mourão is the author of Manual Artivismo. Video and Performance , essay on art as a form of political protest embedded in the project Our dreams do not fit in your ballot , rank at the National Museum of Contemporary Art Chiado until September 24. Was the inauguration of this multimedia installation, July 4, which occupied about 20 people Chiado Museum overnight. Then, participants who occupied the museum produced a document – a press release – required in a meeting with the Minister of Culture, “an ironic and intended to return that application to launch discussions about the fact that there is a ministry,” explains Now the PUBLIC Rui Mourão.