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5 Cultural Suggestions — Tomás Cunha Ferreira

Every week, UMBIGO invites two people to share their 5 cultural suggestions. What can we do at home? From a book to a podcast, album or film: here are recommendations from artists, curators, gallery owners, cultural activists, friends.

We will share the recipe for what makes us better, and we remain united and positive.

Tomás Cunha Ferreira

In some online bookstore: Harry Smith, Paper Airplanes and String Figures
These are the first two volumes, each better than the other, from the integral of Harry Smith, a brilliant artist / anthropologist / mystic / etc.
http://anthologyfilmarchives.org/collections/smith-catalogue

John Cage / Diary: How to Improve the World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse)
For me this is better than any Netflix series: an 8-volume diary, which is more a kaleidoscope of ideas than a diary, and which you can read or listen – written between 1965 and 82, and recorded by John Cage in 1991, with the volume of the voice and the length of each entry corresponding to a typographic change. The sound version can be found here: http://www.ubu.com/sound/cage_diary.html, and the books have been reissued by Siglio Press.

Manuel Graça Dias, Ver Artes 
Now that I have to stay home indefinitely, I miss wandering around the city, I miss Lisbon, the people of Lisbon, the streets, the buildings. Reviewing the programs that Manuel Graça Dias did for RTP2, and that are in the RTP online archive, helps a little. They are all made with immense humor and intense love for the city. My favorites: Words in the City, Cranes and Ships, Mysteries of the City, Cova do Vapor, Mobile Homes. https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/palavras-na-cidade/

Two albums that came out now and are fully on youtube, to listen loudly at home, and make friends among the neighbors: Iowa Dream, from Arthur Russell’s bottomless chest

and also: We’re New Again, Makaya McCraven / Gil Scott-Heron

Tomás Cunha Ferreira lives and works in Lisbon. In his work, the artist combines various supports, in a cross-border and open circuit practice. Recent projects include shows at Factor Cavalo – Bienal de Cerveira 2017 / Verbivocovisual – Concrete, Visual and Experimental Portuguese Poetry at ZDB, Lisbon 2017 / Ontemporâneo at CIAJG, Guimarães 2016 / Partitura – at O Armário, Lisbon 2016. His practice extends to teaching, radio, writing and music.

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