Artist Gabe Duarte talks about reconnecting with their practice in the context of returning to their hometown, their diverse array of technical and mental approaches drawing, community in relation to observation, and more.

Gabe Duarte:

“My practice is driven by observing objects that are lost, forgotten and the anonymous actions that left them where and how they were found. I’ve been questioning what separates what is formally considered monumental from the mundane and how frequently the physical manifestations of both end up intersecting. This interest originated from believing that there is a personal and unshakeable connection, that adds constantly to the collective history of the materials that surround us. By paying close attention to day to day objects and the circumstances that define these meetings, we’re capable of defining new indicators in our memory, knowledge, and by relativity, identity. Consequently, a more realistic, fair and accessible system of values built in relation to materials, objects, places and aesthetics is collectively formed, making it equally suitable to an artistic context that is inclusive and speaks directly to community. For this reason, my work has become increasingly dependent on cooperative research, giving form and image to discarded visual records of community and social collectivity.

My representation of dissociated movements and objects has lately extended to include references to text and images found in online platforms that are seen as of little intellectual value, but that in sharing gain a new extremely personal origin and quality. I have been interested in breaking apart terminology and the aesthetics that surround the art world. The ones capable of separating a handwritten street sign from an artist’s instagram caption. I imaginarily and playfully delineate the relationships between these settings, objects, writings and images, always carefully considering the time and space between themselves and those who have or may come to meet them. The visual inspiration is drawn from the structures, shapes and patterns that belong to these situations and places, physically or mentally delineated. Painting and drawing make it possible for me to understand and record these themes, simultaneously challenging its traditional technical aspects. Additionally, I use sculptural and installation methods that ensure that the works are capable of being observed and encountered sensorially from unexpected angles and perspectives.”

Gabe Duarte was born in 2002 in Guimarães, where they grew up until they were 15, when their family moved to London, England. There Gabe completed in 2023 their degree in Fine Art: Drawing at UAL, Camberwell College of Arts. Gabe has been part of and organized several group exhibition projects in London. Over the past year, they have worked closely with Portuguese cultural groups such as CAAA (Center for Art and Architecture Affairs) and the Madrôa Collective, both in Guimarães.

Gabe’s Instagram: @ultratape_