Calouste Gulbenkian Day – 150 years of Gulbenkian Foundation
The “Calouste Gulbenkian Day” was celebrated on 19 July 2019, an act framed in the 150 years’ celebrations of the Calouste Foundation. The celebration included a playing by their Orchestra, directed by Nuno Coelho.This “Tal Lucas” was there, drawing, and this is the written report of the experience.
Meanwhile, I remember that I discovered the beauty of this place on the 1st of July, 2018. That Sunday, I was celebrating my birthday, just 33 years old! I had landed in Lisbon and took the Linha Vermelha towards the city centre. Hence, I left the tube at São Sebastião and then I saw was the Fundação. I was so glad to be walking through such a beautiful garden…! Since then, I attended many events, always keeping a fresh fascination for the auditorium and their different and varied presentations.
First act, action!
Before the orchestra played, there was the ceremony of the Gulbenkian Prizes awards. In particular, one of the distinctions was for Amin Maalouf, enlightening his great carrier and activity. Honestly, the whole thing seemed a bit long for me. Maybe, it’s because I feel some allergy to formality acts. Yet, I must recognise that the mission and vision of the prizes made the prelude worthy.
The Portuguese President was there in person to read his speech (does he write it or someone else do it for him?). The first part was in French and the second in Portuguese. He pronounced phrases like “by the force of reason, rather than reason by force”, and pointed out to the Agenda 2030‘s goals. In the meantime, I was drawing and doing one, two… many among infinite lines. Yet, the drawing went longer than the initial speeches, and it was not ended even when the first part of the orchestra finished.
Second act
After the formalities, they passed to the Orchestra. All of sudden the stage’s curtains were opened, revealing a beautiful view of the garden, as the background of an unusual and natural theatre. Then, clarinet soloist Horácio Ferreira, one of the special guest of the night, was ready to play.
At some point, Horácio plus the other two clarinets of the band “escaped” from the stage. They appeared from behind, playing between stands and from different places in the theatre. They played and walked slowly towards the main stage, in a inusual musical dialogue with the orchestra. One of them appeared next to me, so I took the opportunity to “immortalise him” with green color. Why? Well, a bit because his movements were “Martians”, a bit for graphic balance, but mainly because I had no other colours (I must be honest 😂). The player’s contrast remind me of the satyr with the flute near Positano that I saw in 2011.
One detail: I captured a screen that was near the curtains when I started with the drawing. During the first act, the screen was used to project videos of the projects supported by the Foundation. When the curtain opened and the garden appeared, the screen was gone! So, I had to improvise a hybrid image that kept emphasised with the colours that I had at hand.
Closing
Finally, this is the result after the Calouste Gulbenkian Day. The drawing was made in one of the most cheap A5 blocks, bought in the Danish shop by excellence for those kind of things.
