A series of postcards published by Ernesto de Sousa, entitled O passado como aventura (1978), was the motto for a collaborative work between Ana João Romana and Isabel Baraona, involving 35 artists and collectives. This work, a series of postcards, was exhibited at the Círculo de Artes Plásticas de Coimbra and sent via CTT to a large number of recipients. In the introduction to Artists‘ postcards from 1960 to now, about the collection of artists’ postcards held at the British Museum in London, Jeremy Cooper clearly explains that each postcard is an original idea and not an illustration, and says “if you own one of these postcards, you own an original artwork by this artist”*.
As lovers and makers of artist’s books and multiples, we believe that the postcard, despite its modest format, is an opportunity to express a poetic idea and perhaps also support a political manifesto. But above all, as Michael Bracewell says, “every postcard describes a world; and every postcard bought or sent appears to promise a friendly gesture – the desire to share a moment’s closeness with its recipient”**.

If we’re returning to this title that combines future and adventure, it’s because we, Ana and Isabel, as visual artists and teachers, are interested in bringing together artists from different generations and backgrounds, weaving relationships between those who were our masters and these young people we met at ESAD.CR. By creating a new series of postcards, we also emphasise our interest in expanding the concept of the exhibition, we want it to be an experience that extends over space and time, with the postcards being sent via CTT. In an open dialogue, we want to continue experimenting with possibilities for encounters between artists and a wide variety of audiences.
At the invitation of the Cooperativa de Comunicação e Cultura, we are organising two exhibitions that come together under this motto, but are divided into two spaces, the Centro de Cultura Contemporânea 9 & 13.

* COOPER, Jeremy. (2019) The World Exists to be put on a Postcard, Artists’ postcards from 1960 to now. Londres: Thames & Hudson / British Museum.

** BRACEWELL, Michael. (2011) The Postcard Art of Gilbert & Georges 1972-1989. The Postcard Sculture, Postcard Pieces, Titled Postcards Pictures. Munique: DelMonico Books/Prestel.