Lígia Pereira

In 1988, Lisbon’s Chiado was ravaged by a fire; now, some of the highest real estate property prices in Portugal are paid for a piece of this Álvaro Siza Vieira-renovated area. Reproduta interdita was one of Pêra’s first (and certainly weirdest) works to deal with the aftermath of this disaster.

A performance blending 16mm film, sound loops, music and spoken word. In collaboration with Mariëtte Groot, Janeiro creates a rich soundscape that moves fluidly from karaoke recordings and breathing exercises to synths and acoustic instruments. The visuals depict everyday social life, interwoven with sudden, inexplicable mysteries, drawing on gothic themes, with transformation and death as central elements. These are portrayed in a raw, visceral way, heightening the piece’s unsettling yet playful atmosphere.