The celebrations, which aim to bring António Soares dos Reis back into cultural focus and promote knowledge of his work, involve the Soares dos Reis National Museum, the Círculo Dr. José de Figueiredo – Amigos do MNSR, the Municipalities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, and the University of Porto, through its Faculties of Fine Arts and Letters.
During the presentation, the graphic identity for the celebrations was revealed, developed by designers Eduardo Aires, José Carneiro, and Ana Leite from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, which will be used by all partner institutions to ensure common visual communication.
Among the main projects by the Soares dos Reis National Museum is a major international exhibition dedicated to the sculptor, curated by Penelope Curtis, scheduled to open on October 14, 2027. The exhibition will re-evaluate Soares dos Reis's work within the context of 19th-century European sculpture. In the first half of 2027, the MNSR will also present the exhibition 'The contemporaneity of Soares dos Reis through the art of Rui Sanches', curated by Miguel von Hafe Pérez.
The program also includes the project 'Between Form and Silence', curated by Paulo Caius, and the digital release of the Complete Works Catalogue of António Soares dos Reis.
The Municipalities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia are participating with projects that reinforce the sculptor's connection to the cities. In Porto, the program focuses on valuing works from the municipal collection deposited at the MNSR, including the installation of a bronze reproduction of 'Flor Agreste' in the Crystal Palace Gardens. Vila Nova de Gaia, the sculptor's birthplace, proposes an exhibition on his disciples at the Teixeira Lopes House-Museum and an commemorative ceremony on October 14, 2027.
The Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto will host an international symposium, while the Faculty of Letters will present a commented film series, lectures, a cultural route, and a virtual exhibition on Google Arts & Culture. For 2028, a scientific meeting on Soares dos Reis within the national and international artistic context of his time is planned.
António Soares dos Reis, born on October 14, 1847, in Santo Ovídio, Vila Nova de Gaia, is one of the most significant figures in 19th-century Portuguese sculpture. The celebrations aim to introduce new audiences to the sculptor and enhance the projection of his legacy.
