Alternating between realism and abstraction, Moreira’s images pose these eternal questions; where did we come from, what came before us and who else is out there?
The chromatic drawings and paintings of Portuguese artist Francisco Mendes Moreira often portray abstract faces and figures as he explores universal themes relating to the human experience. Typically engaging with repurposed surfaces ranging from old scraps of fabric and cardboard to wood blocks, Moreira uses oil paint or oil pastel to create his complex portraits. Creating works with a broad number of matierals, number of themes and even the scale are all circumstantial, in the sense that it is his daily development in live that determines the studio processes.
Alternating between realism and abstraction, Moreira’s images pose these eternal questions; where did we come from, what came before us and who else is out there? The artist is also recognized for his renderings of sprawling landscapes featuring trees and mountains; these elements are usually depicted in unnatural hues and highlight the otherworldly feeling the work evokes. The act of analysis has little space in the specific creative process, but, observing the artist’s works, it can be concluded that Moreira’s practice is a continuous commentary and staging of events related to the human condition. Work from Moreira’s extensive oeuvre has been exhibited throughout Europe and North America.