We talked with PRALAC Artists in Residency (LAC’s Artistic Residency Program) who told us about their work, processes, artistic practices and their experience. We then share the interview with Artist MadFildz.
In annual residency at AC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas since 2021.
Links: Instagram
Biography
MadFildz has a degree in Fine Arts from Newcastle University (UK, 2012), and from FBAUL (2010). During her degree she developed pictorial work around the issues of technology vs. human genetics, and exhibited in several contexts. Later he started to produce larger scale Installation pieces, using wood, lighting, paint, and occasionally sound. During her time in the UK, she worked as a teaching assistant in the discipline of Collaboration (Newcastle University, 2011 – 2012); was selected artist to design a public art project for Newcastle Council (2011); and participated, through the university, in the artist residency REcall-DoW, WS Venice, Italy – European Programme for the Re-appropriation of Archaeological Landscapes of Conflict in Venice for presentation in the context of the Venice Architecture Biennale (September 2012). She subsequently worked as a costume assistant and as a scenic artist in two theaters in the north of England, as well as guiding artistic and participatory activities in various centers for children and young people, and for people with learning disabilities (2012-2015).
Returning to Portugal, she completed a Professional Internship with A Reserva na Fábrica – Associação Para a Criatividade e Mediação Cultural, Oeiras, Portugal (September 2018-May 2019), and joined the Education Service teams of Mapa das Ideias in several projects, and of Arte+ in the exhibition Stars of Pop Art (June-September 2019).
Also in 2019, she developed and led a workshop in Artivism for young adults: ODS Lab – Introduction to Techniques of Plastic Expression for Agents of Social Transformation; the SDG Hunt, a playful workshop for children to raise awareness of the SDGs, stencil practice and painting murals; and in 2020, during the pandemic confinement period, the online workshop #window_camera_action: all these in the context of the ODS Generation project – an initiative of the PAR association in partnership with IMVF, funded by the Camões Institute with support from IPDJ, and having as associated organization A Reserva na Fábrica. Currently, she is resident artist at LAC – Laboratory of Creative Arts, in Lagos, also working as Coordinator of the Educational Service of the Association since 2021. She is developing pictorial and textile work, in pieces that propose to challenge canons by evoking stereotypes of fashion and domesticity, and everyday objects associated with the specter of the human female – not in opposition to these, but in its eccentricity and/or dispossession. The participatory aspect, which it intends to explore more and more in these projects, is crucial in the exchange and sharing of experiences between participants, and in the collective action and reflection to which it invites.
Education
2010-2012: Masters Degree in Fine-Arts (MFA – Master in Fine Arts), Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Sep 2005-Jul 2010: Degree in Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon
Collective Exhibitions
Mar-Apr 2023: Ponto de Fuga, Associação 289, Faro, Portugal
Jan-Feb 2023: PRALAC, LAC, Lagos, Portugal
Jul-Aug 2022: LAC Collection II, LAC, Lagos, Portugal
Jun-Jul 2022: Contendores, The Hood, Amadora, Portugal
May-Jun 2022: PRALAC, ªSede, Porto, Portugal
Apr-May 2022: PRALAC, Association 289, Faro, Portugal
Jun-Jul 2021: PRALAC, Cultural Center of Lagos, Lagos, Portugal
Sep 2012: ReCall DoW, WS Venice Session: Marinaretti Story, 13 Architecture Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Sept 2012: Susan Aldworth: Reassembling the Self (The Compliance Appliance), Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Aug-Sep 2012: Master of Fine Art Degree Show, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Aug-Sep 2011: Master of Fine Art Interim Show, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Feb 2011: [transterminal], Long Gallery, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Jun 2011: Creative Stuff in Public Places, OnSite Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
2010: 16th International Fine Art Exhibition, Municipal Auditorium, Vendas Novas, Portugal
2010: FBAUL Painting Finalists – Selected Works 09/10, Fundação Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon, Portugal
2010: FBAUL Painting Finalists 09/10, Palácio das Galveias, Lisbon, Portugal
2010: XXIII Spring Salon, Casino Estoril Gallery, Estoril, Portugal
2009: XXII Spring Salon, Casino Estoril Gallery, Estoril, Portugal
Individual Exhibitions
2010: Sara Borges Painting, Chiado Editora – Les Enfants Terribles Café & Librairie, Lisbon, Portugal.
Residences / Financing
Sep 2012: REcall-DoW, WS Venice,, Italy – European Program for the Re-appropriation of Archaeological Conflict Landscapes in Venice for presentation in the context of the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Feb-Jun 2011: Creative Stuff in Public Places – Proposal to committee, Newcastle City Council, UK.
Prizes and Concessions
2010: Honorable Mention, XXII Spring Salon, Casino Estoril Gallery, Estoril, Portugal
2010-2011: Concession of atelier provided by Dr. Julio Saint-Maurice on the recommendation of Professor Lima de Carvalho
Professional Experience
Aug 2021 – present: Coordinator and Technician, LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas, Lagos, Portugal
Dec 2020 – Jul 2021: Teacher of Extra Curricular Activities in schools of the Municipality of Monchique, Monchique, Portugal
May 2020: #camera_window (online workshop), SDG Generation Project (PAR, IMVF, The Reserve).
May 2019: ODS Lab – Introduction to Plastic Expression Techniques for Agents of Social Transformation, ODS Generation Project (PAR, IMVF, A Reserva), Sintra.
Apr 2019: SDG Hunt (playful workshop for children to raise awareness of the SDGs, stencil practice and mural painting), SDG Generation Project (PAR, IMVF, A Reserva), Oeiras.
Jul – Sep 2019: Education Service. Exhibition Stars of Pop Art, curated by Dolores Durán Ucar, Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon.
Jun 2019: Education Service. Various projects. Mapa das Ideias, Edições de Publicações, Lda.
Sep 2018 – May 2019: Professional Internship. A Reserva na Fábrica – Association for Creativity and Cultural Mediation, Oeiras, Portugal.
Apr – May 2015: Scenic Artist (Freelance). Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Apr 2013 – Aug 2014: Participatory Arts Monitor. Arcadea/Choice Hub, Newcastle upon Tyne. UK.
Oct 2011 – Jan 2012: Assistant Professor, Newcastle University. UK.
Additional Information
Apr 2023: Training The (Non)Acceptance of Contemporary Art Work, Art Central, online.
Apr 2023: Art Thinking Training c/ María Acaso, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Feb 2020-present: Resident artist at LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas, Associação Cultural
Sep 2021: Course Visions of Contemporary Art, 25h, Arte Central, online.
Aug-Nov 2020: Certificate in Initial Pedagogical Training for Trainers, Training House, IEFP.
Aug-Sep 2018: Participation in the “Useful Art” Workshop, BOCA Summer School 2018.
Nov 2012: Certificate of Training in Using the Arts with Young Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Artsworks/Baltic, Gateshead, UK.
