MÁRIO SILVA, (Coimbra, 29/11/1929 — Coimbra, 10/09/2016). Drawing from the generation of the sixties by way of cultural action, Silva's humanistic and libertarian values contrast sharply with the establishment.
He attended the Engineering College at the University of Coimbra, co-founding the Circle of Fine Arts of the Academic Association. He mediated, together with Reyes Santos, the Second International Colloquium of Art, where he met René Huyghe.
His 45-year career achieved great public success, winning national and international critical interest. His artwork is not only dedicated to painting, but also extends to the fields of graphic arts (monotype, etching, silkscreen, illustration, and poster), ceramics, sculpture and monumental public art.
With its inception in the sixties, his artwork has been shown in numerous international art fairs, biennials, collective and individual exhibitions in: Portugal (Lisbon, Estoril, Porto, Coimbra, many other cities and university centers), Sweden (Stockholm) in Denmark (Copenhagen), the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht), Belgium (Brussels), UK (London, Scotland / Glasgow), Finland (Helsinki), Denmark (Egsberg), France (Paris, Lille ,Chaville), Italy (Rome, Milan, Sienna, Florence, Gabice-Mare, How, Montecatini), Spain(Madrid, Sottomayor, Salamanca, Sevilla, Barcelona, Vigo), Switzerland (Bern, Geneva,Wessel, Burckhardt) Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Hannover), Austria (Salzburg), USA (NewYork, Houston, Chicago, Buffalo, Michigan, Toledo / Ohio, New Jersey, Florida,Montgomery, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Anchorage), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo,Bahia Salvador), Guatemala, Cuba (Havana, St. James), Angola (Luanda), Morocco, Japan (Chibak, Tokyo) and Thailand (Bangkok).
He has earned national and international awards such as: “Copa per il miglior Artista d’Avanguardia” (Milan-Italy, 74), the Grand Prix Galliano (Milan, 75), the International Peace Prize (International Institute for Humanistic Studies in Rome - Foundation for poets, writers, artists and journalists, Italy, 83), the 1st Prize Arte d’Avanguardia (Milan, Italy, 74), Valbruna Prize -Sculpture (Gabicce-Mare, Italy, 71) and, among others, the Silver Cups (Commune di Como, Italy in 1972 and 82) and Gold Medal (Giro delle Arte di Lombardia-Italy 75).
His works are present in many Museums of Modern and Contemporary Art: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Boston, Anchorage, Amsterdam, Montecatini, Stockholm, Coimbra, Lisbon, Amarante, Castelo Branco, F. da Foz, VF Xira, Viseu, Ovar.
He is also present in Art Galleries, public and private collections throughout the world.
He is a member of the National Society of Fine Arts (Lisbon), Vice-Chairman of the Board of the National Association of ANAP-National association of Portuguese Artists, and was elected a member of the Portuguese Committee for AIAP-“Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques” |UNESCO Paris. He is a honorary member of the Galician and Portuguese Friendship and Arts Association (AAAGP) from Portugal.
In 2006, the city of Coimbra honored him with the Medal of Cultural Merit of the City, and in 2007 he was awarded by the Portuguese government with the Medal of Cultural Merit, signed and handed by the Minister of Culture. In 2009 he was awarded the Career Prize by the "Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea" in Florence.
Associated with countless artists, men of letters and scientists from multiple schools and art movements from around the world, Mário Silva has promoted the dissemination of interdisciplinary art in dialogue with the younger generations.
