Leonor Antunes has developed a distinctive approach to engaging with contemporary art, architecture, and design through a reinterpretation of sculptures in specific architectural spaces. Antunesʼ inspirations include not only important figures from cultural domains of the twentieth century, but also artists or designers from the same period, particularly women, whose practices were radical in social and political terms, and who were aiming to enhance and improve everyday life through art and design. Her works borrow from traditional craftsmanship in South America, Mexico, and Portugal, and use materials such as rope, leather, cork, wood, brass, and rubber to explore their potential for creating Modernist sculptural forms.

The venue, Sumi Memorial Hall, is the only remaining Modernist architecture by Tange Kenzo in Aichi Prefecture. It exhibits many of the characteristics of Tangeʼs early works, including a large double-beam structure and bare concrete. The installation that Antunes presents in this environment is inspired by the work of two designers who had been involved in exchanges in the arts and applied arts between Europe and Japan. One is Yamawaki Michiko (1910–2000), who studied for two years from 1930 at the Bauhaus, the famous school of arts and crafts in Dessau, Germany. The other is Charlotte Perriand (1903–1999), who worked for in Le Corbusierʼs office for a period, and through her connections with Mayekawa Kunio and Sakakura Junzo, was invited to Japan in 1940 as a Ministry of Commerce and Industry advisor on decorative arts. With great respect for the effort that these two designers must have exerted, and bearing in mind the manner in which Modernism was a male-centered construct, Antunes explores how far the diverse narratives concerning Japan can be brought back to life in contemporary times.

Recent solo exhibitions have been held at Mudam (2019; Luxembourg), The Box (2019; Plymouth, UK), and São Paulo Museum of Art (2019; Brazil). Antunes represented Portugal at the 58th Venice Biennale (2019; Italy) and has participated in the Festival dʼAutomne in Paris (2021; France).

Selected Works & Awards

2021

Festival dʼAutomne, Paris, France

2019

58th Venice Biennale, Italy

2019

Solo exhibition, São Paulo Museum of Art, Brazil

2019

Solo exhibition, The Box, Plymouth, UK

2019

Solo exhibition, Mudam, Luxembourg

Exhibition

• Installation view at Aichi Triennale 2022
• the homemaker and her domain, 2021/2022
• Photo: ToLoLo studio