The Gulbenkian Foundation's Centro de Arte Moderna (CAM) is presenting an exhibition by the Portuguese artist Leonor Antunes, entitled "the constant inequality of Leonor's days*". Occupying around 1400 m² of the Nave of the CAM, the exhibition is the artist's largest intervention in Portugal to date, on display until February 17, 2025.
At the centre of the sculptural intervention, which dominates the Nave, is a remarkable cork-based floating floor sculpture. Covering 1,399 m², the floor was designed using the Originals Natural line, from Amorim Cork Flooring's Cork Essence range. This element is not only an integral part of the exhibition space, it stands due to its rich details: linoleum and brass inlays that form patterns inspired by a design for a carpet, created by Marian Pepler.
To create the project, several pieces of the cork flooring were carefully cut in order to form specific shapes, while other pieces retained their original dimensions- 905 x 295 mm. The result is a harmonious composition of art and sustainable materials, which underlines the eco-conscious and innovative aesthetic that underpins Leonor Antunes' work.
More than just a functional element of the installation, the cork flooring is a true horizontal sculpture, combining design and sustainability. Leonor Antunes' intervention at the CAM therefore represents a celebration of art, memory and the environment, in an immersive experience that combines the beauty of cork with a tribute to the pioneering women who have been rendered invisible in the history of modern art.
