April 25: A New Original Artwork by O Gringo Arrives at La Smart Galerie
La Smart Galerie is pleased to present a new original artwork by contemporary artist O Gringo, now available to view at our gallery in Lisbon's LX Factory.
Entitled MARE LIBERUM: SORELLA LIBERTÀ - April 25: Two Paths, One Freedom, the work measures 160 × 100 cm and connects two different historical events commemorated on the same date.
In Portugal, 25 April 1974 marks the Carnation Revolution and the end of the Estado Novo dictatorship. In Italy, 25 April 1945 commemorates the Liberation, the Partisan Resistance and the defeat of Nazi-Fascism.
Rather than presenting these events as identical, O Gringo creates a visual dialogue between them.
Two female figures represent Portugal and Italy. They face different horizons and preserve their individual identities, yet remain connected by the structure of the composition and by a star that resembles a compass.
On the Portuguese side, the red carnation, green and red colours, musical references and elements inspired by azulejo art evoke the Carnation Revolution.
On the Italian side, the Stella d'Italia, the inscriptions LIBERAZIONE, LIBERTÀ and PARTIGIANI, together with red poppies used as a poetic symbol of memory and rebirth, recall Italy's struggle against Nazi occupation and Fascism.
The original artwork reflects O Gringo's Hybrid Mixed Media practice, combining historical research, photography, pictorial intervention, digital composition and references to Portuguese ceramic traditions.
Its monumental scale allows the composition to be experienced from a distance while revealing layers of inscriptions, textures, flowers and symbolic details when observed more closely.
This is a work about European memory, but also about the responsibility of preserving freedom.
The original artwork can now be viewed at:
La Smart Galerie - LX Factory
Rua Rodrigues de Faria, 103
1300-501 Lisbon, Portugal
Telephone and WhatsApp: +351 937 134 669
Email: smartgalerie@paris75image.com
Private viewings and enquiries are welcome.