Welcome to my first English issue of the newsletter, one that marks my move to Amsterdam. By the time you are reading this, I might have just landed in the Netherlands, as I am starting my Master’s in Museum Studies.
In that sense, I guess this is a special edition, written somewhere between a lot of packing and two different countries.
Still, as I spent most of the month in Portugal, I bring you things I’ve seen, consumed, or experienced there. Hopefully, the next edition will be full of references to the contemporary Dutch art scene.
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Linda Männel
Looking back at the works I was most obsessed with this month, I realized that textile and fibre art was a constant presence.
While scrolling on Instagram - bless the algorithm - I came across a very special artist whose technique intrigued me and made me want to find out more, listen to interviews, and dive deeper into her practice.
I have always been fascinated by the intersection between painting, photography, and textiles, and Linda Männel’s work is a perfect example of that.
At the base of all her works, such as the ones above, lies a black-and-white painting. Hard to believe, I know, but there are no other colors underneath the thread. For me, that’s the most surprising aspect: the three-dimensionality created by the yarn is also what gives the work its polychromy.
There is something deeply meditative about looking at close-up, detailed photos of her works and recognizing the different colors that, arranged in straight lines, end up painting the surface…
EXHIBITIONS OF THE MONTH
A month after officially leaving Lisbon, I was already missing the city and its artistic scene, so I returned three times during the month of August. These were some of the exhibitions I ended up seeing.
From the Surrounds, we build the present
📍 Torreão Nascente da Cordoaria Nacional (Piso 1)
⌛️ 04.07 - 02.11.2025
31 Mulheres - Uma exposição de Peggy Guggenheim
Curadoria de Patricia Mayayo
📍 MAC/CCB - Piso 2
⌛️ 21.05 - 11.07.2025
Pau-Campeche - Flávia Vieira
Curadoria: Sofia Lemos
📍 Galeria da Boavista
⌛️ 16.04 - 31.08.2025
Superfície Desordem
Curadoria: Jonathan Uliel Saldanha
📍 Torreão Nascente da Cordoaria Nacional (Piso 0)
⌛️ 17.07 - 09.11.2025
MOVIES OF THE MONTH
Holidays mean more time to sit on the couch and flip through TV channels in search of a movie to watch - or perhaps finally watch that one that’s been sitting on the “to-watch list” for months. Both were the case here, so feel free to take some ideas for your next picks on streaming platforms (I really recommend Stremio, by the way).
My favourite:
RUN
Director: Aneesh Chaganty
Genre: Thriller/Suspense/Drama
Raking: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: I’m always left speechless by Sarah Paulson. Amazing movie, a perfect construction of the story, brilliant actresses and the plot is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. I was all the time anxious trying to understand what was about to happen - but don’t get me wrong because the movie is not complex at all and is very easy to follow. If you enjoy suspense and topics related to the psychology of motherhood, please watch this one.
Other movies I saw:
God is a bullet
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Genre: Thriller / Action
Raking: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review: The plot was very promising, but I must confess I was quite disappointed with how it was developed. I’ll try not to spoil too much: the story follows a father who embarks on a journey to take revenge on a satanic cult that kidnaps his daughter and kills his wife. I was expecting a dual perspective - on the father’s quest to find his daughter and, at the same time, on what the daughter herself was experiencing. However, the film focuses almost entirely on the father, and the daughter ends up being pushed so far into the background that one might even forget she’s the main reason he set out on this dangerous journey in the first place.
Together (2025) - Just watched on cinema and it was a very good surprise.
Brancusi, Les métamorphoses de la sculpture - Available on Caixa Forum+, this documentary/movie just made me appreciate Brancusi even more and better understand his entire process and relevance. Last year in May, I was lucky enough to visit his exhibition at the Pompidou, and seeing this film made me incredibly nostalgic.
TEXTS OF THE MONTH
This was perhaps the month in which I read the most magazines and digital publications. The truth is that there is a huge amount of content on contemporary art that I am only now discovering and, I must admit, sometimes it is a bit overwhelming.
So, this month I tried to follow specific publications and writers that I really engage with.
Publication: Yung Magazine
Author: Mariana Baião Santos
I love how Mariana expresses her reflections in such an engaging way. On her texts for Yung Magazine, she often reflects on arts, fashion and sometimes life in general. The art texts are the ones I like to read the most as she discusses subjects related to art and society, visual culture and the arts world in general and I really recommend reflecting along with her through some of her most recent ones:
The Art World’s Biggest Lies: Debunking Common Art Myths
Along with Yung’s articles, I definitely recommend Mariana’s newsletter here on Substack: Studio Notes by Mariana Baião Santos
And speaking of Substack, throughout the month my readings also included these publications:
PODCASTS OF THE MONTH
I have to admit: cleaning and taking care of the house and garden are some of my favorite things to do in summertime. I know - it’s not everyone’s first pick for vacation, but for me it’s deeply relaxing and almost therapeutic. Sometimes, in the silence of the night, I even think I must have been a housewife in another life.
That said, these quiet moments are perfect for putting on my headphones and discovering new podcasts.
This month, I’m sharing a few episodes I particularly enjoyed and listened to throughout the weeks - though I highly recommend diving into the full programs, as they’re truly inspiring for reflecting on both art and life.
The Art Angle:
Curating Tools:
No Stupid Questions:
Other programs I have been listened to:
Exhibitionistas
Impertinente (pt)
Appleton Podcast (pt)
Vale a Pena (pt)
Era uma voz (pt)
i was instantly excited when i saw the notification of your newsletter! amazing references and point of view as always, Lu!!! wish you all the best in this new journey and wait for my visit in a couple of months🤍