Hitting its stride in its third year, Allgarve 09 is designed to showcase all that the region has to offer in addition to the famous coastline that already draws thousands of British visitors each year - festival offerings range across music, sport, entertainment, gastronomy and art.
And this year, there is a particular emphasis on contemporary art, with works by a range of Portugese and international artists on display in a variety of established galleries as well as more unusual venues, such as a medieval church, on the sides of buildings in the historical center of Faro, the regional capital, and in a disused salt mine.
The overarching theme for the exhibitions is ‘As Bright As the Sun', and indeed you may find yourself squinting in astonishment at some of the work. ‘Dialogue Boxes in Street Windows' creates a walking tour of the cobblestoned streets of the old town of Faro, as visitors meander past huge installation works: a collection of bridal dresses hanging from balconies; red ribbon wrapped around a sculpture like a spiders' web; bold paintings hung on the walls of centuries-old buildings.
Further west along the coast is ‘Between Sky and Sea' at the Lagos Cultural Centre in Lagos, where the work of eight Portugese artists is on display, mixing photography with video, sculpture, drawing and painting. In Silves, the curators of ‘Blink' at the House of the Arabian and Mediterranean Cultures were inspired by the Malcolm Gladwell book of the same name: this selection of 55 prints by artists ranging from Matisse to Escher as well as specific printmakers engages the viewer with issues of authenticity and originality.
And to see ‘Timeless Territories', you'll need to don a hard hat to journey to the bottom of the Mina Campina de Cima in Loulé, via a creaky (but sturdy!) lift: at the bottom of the eight-story-deep shaft, the expansive walls of the mine create an unparalleled space for the display of the work of nine artists who engage with the issues of imagined spaces and boundary crossing that are prompted by the unique space.
For our members who are keen to experience this unique festival this summer, we recommend the boutique properties owned by Epoque Hotels in the area: their three charming hotels are all located in or just outside Lagos and serve as an ideal base for a visit to the festival. Get in touch with us to discuss your trip and we'll get started on making all the arrangements.
