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U.Porto Memory

University of Porto Famous Alumni

Arlindo Rocha

Arlindo Rocha 1921-1999 Sculptor

Arlindo Gonçalves da Rocha was born in Porto in 1921.

He studied at the Porto School of Fine Arts during a period of intense reforms organized and led, among others, by teachers Carlos Ramos, Joaquim Lopes, Dórdio Gomes and Barata Feyo.
Between 1943 and 1950, he participated in Independent Exhibitions in Porto, Lisbon, Coimbra, Leiria and Braga.
In 1945, he completed the Sculptor course at the ESBAP, and did his traineeship at the Missão Estética de Férias [Aesthetic Celebration Missions].
During this period, he joined the Group of Independents in Porto, who were responsible for the first experiments in geometric abstraction, in the paintings by Fernando Lanhas and sculpture work by Arlindo Rocha.

In 1948, he exhibited his work entitled "Mulher e Árvore" [Woman and Tree], a polished bronze forerunning work that introduced a new type of sculpture language, wholly abstract, which would be repeated in his works "Abstracção" [Abstraction] and "Abstracção II" [Abstraction II], shown in 1949.
From this year on, he took part in the Modern Art Exhibitions held at the SPN/SNI, in Lisbon. At that time, the artistic manifestations were controlled by neo-realist and surrealist propositions.
In 1953, he obtained a grant from the Institute of High Culture, enabling him to train in Italy. The following year, he participated in the 1st Abstract Art Salon promoted by the Março Gallery, in Lisbon, created by Fernando Lemos and José Augusto França, who at the time played an important role in National Art between 1952 and 1954. In that year, he exhibited his work in Lourenço Marques, nowadays Maputo, and in Beira, in Mozambique, sponsored by the Ministry for Overseas.

In 1957, he exhibited his work at the 1st Plastic Art Exhibitions organized by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon, and participated in the competition for the "Monument to Prince Henry", which was to be erected in Sagres [in the Algarve].
In 1958, he produced "Poesia" [Poetry] and was invited to join the Portuguese representation to the International Exhibition in Brussels, where he was to receive a silver medal.
In 1959, he showed "Ritmo de Primavera" [Spring Rhythm] and won the Modern Art Award in Viana do Castelo, the Sculpture Award "Mestre Manuel Pereira", at the Salão dos Novíssimos [Novíssimos Salon], and obtained a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which enabled him to visit Egypt and Greece and the most important European museums.

In 1961, at the 2nd Plastic Arts Exhibition organized by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, he exhibited his work "Ciência" [Science] (1956-1960), a novel work of art in white, tin-plated metal, which paved the way for the geometric approach of shapes.
In the following years, he took part in very important artistic events, such as the 1st Exhibition of Awarded Artists in the Salões dos Novíssimos, in Lisbon, the VIII S.Paulo Biennial Exhibition, in Brazil (1965), the exhibition "Levantamento da Arte do século XX no Porto", on shown at the National Museum Soares dos Reis (1975), Porto, and the exhibition "Aspectos da Arte Abstracta em Portugal", at SNBA, in Lisbon (1981).
In addition to his notable original sculptor works, for which he was famous in Portugal, he also developed figurative works of art to cater for the commissions he received in the field of public art, medal work and sacred art.

From the 80's on, he drew closer to the Constructivist movement, producing works that mix sculpture and architecture, namely the pieces he exhibited at the 4th International Biennial Art Exhibition in Vila Nova de Cerveira, and the pieces made to honour great individualities in Portuguese culture: "Homenagem a Florbela Espanca" and "Homenagem a António Aleixo", in 1985, "Colagem-homenagem a Fernando Lanhas", "Memória ao meu tio arquitecto" and "Homenagem a Camilo", in 1987, exhibited at the 2nd Biennial Exhibition in Caldas da Rainha.

The work of this Portuguese artist, a true pioneer in abstract sculpture, is exhibited in the Modern Art Centre of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon, in the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Museum, in Amarante, and in the Secretariat of State for Culture.

Arlindo Rocha died in Porto in 1999.
(Universidade Digital / Gestão de Informação, 2010)