Last week, I visited the opening of Teresa Murta’s individual exhibition “Absurdo” at the NAVE Gallery, Lisbon.

Teresa Murta paints in acrylics on canvas and the motives are absurd, almost abstract but with some elements that are seemingly recognizable.

The shapes seem organic, or some sorts of containers, and sometimes look like some species of creatures.

The painting below looks like some sort of box, but becomes absurd melting as well upon closer inspection and it remains unclear what it really is:

I found myself trying to make out shapes and put some sense to them, rather than just enjoying the forms.

Some elements, like the egg, keeps recurring like a surrealist symbol in several of the paintings.

There is a feeling of being in a world after some catastrophe in several of the paintings, like surreal abandoned machines scattered.

I have difficulty relating to these absurd machine or organic worlds, except maybe with a certain unease.

The paintings below, especially the one on the right were probably my favorites because they felt more like imaginary creatures with a certain expression on them, that could spark my imagination.

According to the exhibition catalogue, the paintings “go beyond reality and caress our sensitivity”. “Facing Teresa Murta’s work is a plunge into a world where the reality of simple and pure things is contaminated by the though that lives in our eyes.” (exhibition catalogue)

I had a conversation with the artist, asking her if the recurring elements, like the egg or sponge, have a specific meaning. She replied that the works are all totally process based. She never has an idea or sketch before she starts, she just starts with abstract shapes and colours, and then sees if her brain can recognize some of the forms, that she then develops into something more readable.

I am not very attracted to this type of absurd art, but had a wonderful evening and learned a lot just from talking to a passionate artist who works in a very different way.