June 2025 - Marita Setas Ferro Presents “Luminescent Corals” at the 8th Espinho International Art Biennial

The 8th Espinho International Art Biennial will open on June 16 and run until August 30, 2025, reaffirming its role as a platform for the promotion and recognition of contemporary visual arts. Organized by the Municipality of Espinho through its Municipal Museum, the Biennial is a leading event in both the national and international art scenes. Exhibitions will be held at the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Galleries — the museum’s division dedicated to the arts — as well as at the galleries of the Espinho Parish Council and the Centro Multimeios, which will host invited artists.

This year, the Biennial features the participation of textile artist Marita Setas Ferro, who will present the sculpture “Luminescent Corals” — a visually and sensorially striking textile piece, to be inaugurated on June 16 at 6:00 PM at the Municipal Museum of Espinho, as part of the city’s anniversary celebrations and the Biennial’s main exhibition.

Created in 2024 and previously exhibited at Future Icons Selects / London Craft Week (UK) and at Silvermine Galleries (USA), “Luminescent Corals” is part of the Things of Nature collection. The piece draws inspiration from bioluminescent corals found in the ocean’s depths, evoking their ethereal forms and shimmering hues of purple, blue, and green. More than a tribute to nature, the work also serves as a warning about human presence and environmental impacts on the planet’s fragile ecosystems.

Measuring 180 x 80 cm and weighing approximately 12 kg, the sculpture is made from wool, polyester, acrylic, and polyamide yarns, combined with repurposed copper rings and LED lights. The piece is suspended on a wall, radiating light and texture in a hypnotic interplay that invites contemplation and touch.

Marita Setas Ferro explores the fusion between ancestral craft techniques, such as crochet and knitting, and a contemporary aesthetic language. Her work investigates the materiality of yarn as a drawing tool in space, revealing rich textures and organic forms. The use of recycled materials and the slow, manual production process reflect her commitment to sustainability and the poetic nature of creation.

“Transforming yarn into forms, into volumes, into light — that is the magic that drives me, the poetry I wish to convey in every creation,” the artist states.

Marita Setas Ferro’s participation reinforces the role of contemporary textile art in the Espinho Biennial, standing out as a sensitive and critical medium that merges tradition, innovation, and ecological awareness.

Biennial Website: https://portal.cm-espinho.pt/pt/eventos/8-bienal-internacional-de-arte-de-espinho/