Querubim Lapa (Portimão, 1925 – Lisboa, 2016) visited the Portuguese World Exhibition, in 1940, which created an interest in plastic arts. Decided to follow this area of work, he enrolled in the António Arroio School, in 1942, and then went on to complete the Sculpture course at the Fine Arts School of Lisbon, in 1953. In 1942, he showed his work for the first time, at the Italian Culture Institute, in Lisbon. From then on, he was present in numerous exhibitions in Portugal and abroad, namely the Independents Exhibitions in Oporto, from 1948, the Plastic Arts General Exhibitions, from 1949, and the representation of Portugal at the São Paulo Biennial, in 1953. Throughout this decade, he associated himself with the neorealist current, producing paintings, aquarelles, drawings and etchings, for which he mainly chose themes of daily life, namely the beggars series. In 1954, he started his collaboration with the Viúva Lamego ceramics factory, producing various decorative tile panels for public and private orders. One year later, he became a teacher at the António Arroio School, charged with supervising the workshops. In 1960, he had his first solo exhibition at the Cooperative Society of Portuguese Engravers, presenting etchings, paintings and ceramics. In the 1960’s, painting came second as he dedicated himself mostly to ceramic production, a technique which he refined significantly and with which he developed abstract research, that he had already began with painting. At the beginning of the 1970’s, he returned to painting, namely, in a first period, with the series inspired by Monet’s water lilies. However, from 1974 on, a new period began, marked by his wish to intervene in the political and social events coming from the Middle East. He presented then violent and disturbing images, filled with anguished figures with covered faces, in which the expression and dramatic sense took centre place. His last years were dedicated once again to the ceramic universe, a work for which he was better known.
FMV, June 2020
