International Exhibition of Great Masters

Works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Roberto Chichorro and Andy Warhol are some of the surprises in store for you at Santo André de Ancede Monastery. After a restoration project, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira, the monastery opens its doors to an iconic exhibition, which brings together some of the best artists in the history of art. Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm, the International Exhibition of Great Masters is open to the public free of charge. Find out all the details, with V&G.

Grand Masters brings together the greatest figures of contemporary art.

Great Masters is the name of the international exhibition that marks the reopening of the Santo André de Ancede Monastery, in Baião. With an investment of 3.4 million Euros, the building’s restoration project took 15 months, during which Álvaro Siza Vieira, the project’s architect, chose to preserve the marks of the passage of time. The opening of the monastery, on October 15, was marked by the presence of Ana Abrunhosa, Minister for Territorial Cohesion, and, with a maximum of 20 people per group and visits made by appointment, this was how the first day of the exhibition took place. It should be noted that the Cultural Centre has belonged to the Municipality of Baião since 1985, but once had other functions. All that is known about its origin is that it dates back to the days before the foundation of Portugal and, therefore, what could be better than a historic site to serve as the stage for an unprecedented exhibition.

Unusual and rare are the adjectives that best qualify the experience of International Exhibition of Great Masters, consisting of over fifty works of art that are suitable for any taste, thanks to the diversity on show. The Mayor of the Municipality of Baião, Paulo Pereira, explains that the exhibition marks the opening of a new architecture, but also of a new vision, ensuring it is an opportunity for the community to establish a deeper relationship with art. It is undeniable that the exhibition will contribute to highlighting Baião within the cultural and historical arena of the country. 
On display are works belonging to the private collections of more than 20 collaborators, both international and national. The unique character of the exhibition lies in the fact that some works are being exhibited to the public for the first time. This is an experience not to be missed, which includes works that are normally only found in private spaces, including those by owners who choose to remain anonymous.

There is no past or present, only timeless works

The exhibition is curated by Cabral Pinto; the graphic design by Paulo Passos; the exhibition architecture and design by Glorybox; and the organisation by Tiago Feijó. Intended for discerning audiences, Great Masters brings together the greatest figures of contemporary art, stimulating, as a result, the socio-economic growth of the region, with its exclusive nature. Indeed, this reveals a decentralisation in cultural events, while also standing out for deviating from conventional circuits.
Visitors can contemplate fine art with a great deal of history. Picasso goes back to the disconcerting manifestations, at a time when Cubism dominated. Delaunay is present with abstractionism, marked by the bold use of colour and the interplay between tones and depth. In surrealism, Dali appears, with his peculiar and dreamlike combinations. A series of works by the artist Paula Rego is also present at the Cultural Centre of Baião, as well as many other works by iconic personalities, whose names need no introduction.
For all this, be sure to visit the International Exhibition of Great Masters, a universe where there is no past or present, only timeless works.