Fernando Mota (Portugal)

It represents a radicalization of this cycle of creations, assuming art as a tool for transforming society. It uses listening, silence and startle as moments to question the rhythm of everyday life and natural elements as the raw material for a performative object that dialogues with the various dimensions of the human being: the spirit, the soul and the body.

"There is no opposition between the living and the non-living. Not only is every living creature continuous with the non-living, it is its extension, metamorphosis, and most extreme expression. Life is always the reincarnation of that which is not alive, a cobbling together of mineral elements, a carnival of the telluric substance of a planet." - in Metamorfoses, by Emanuele Coccia

_{(*) Sursum Corda (latin): "Hearts up high", "Raise your hearts". Opening dialogue of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer of Anaphora in the liturgies of the Christian Curch.}

^{It is recorded in the earliest liturgies of the Christian Church and is found in all ancient rites.}

BIO

Fernando Mota is a musician, a composer and a multifaceted artist. He creates experimental musical instruments and sound objects from trees, rocks, water and other natural elements. Through listening, silence and startle, he questions the rhythm of everyday life and the expressive and symbolic possibilities of nature. He combines music, theatre, visual arts and poetry to create shows, installations and other artistic objects. His work transcends geographic, cultural and linguistic boundaries. He regularly composes music for theatre, dance and animated films, collaborating with Portuguese and international theatre, dance and film directors and companies and promotes workshops with different groups and communities. His universe results from the intersection of different languages, geographies and tools, as well as constant sound exploration and the construction of experimental musical instruments and sound objects, the use of elements of nature and everyday sounds in his compositions, and sound manipulation and experimentation. Most of his shows share the use of music, theatre, video, visual arts and other artistic areas that result in unique objects and cultural crossovers. Some of his creations have won several Portuguese and international awards and he has performed in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Cape Verde, Romania, Russia, Iran, Brazil and Greece.

_{FICHA ARTÍSTICA}

_{Artistic direction and performer: Fernando Mota Sound design and electronics: José Grossinho Lighting design and operation: Catarina Côdea Video: Mário Melo Costa Photography: Inês Sambas, Jade Mandillo Coordination and production: Violeta Mandillo Residency: Musibéria Coproduction: A Caravana, Artemrede, Câmara Municipal do Seixal, Cendrev, Centro de Arte de Ovar, Centro de Artes Águeda, Cineteatro Alba, FIMFA Lx - Festival Internacional de Marionetas e Formas Animadas, Teatro Aveirense, Teatro das Figuras, Teatro José Lúcio da Silva
www.fernandomota.com}