Sandeman challenged visual artist Filippo Fiumani, painter Francisco Vidal, and illustrator Hugo Makarov to create works that invite viewers to slow down and appreciate the moment. The pieces are now part of Sandeman’s art collection and can be viewed online at The Sandeman Gallery.
“In a fast-paced, disposable world, can we still take the time to appreciate?” was the challenge Sandeman posed to the three artists, a creative process that took Filippo Fiumani to Quinta do Seixo in the Douro, Francisco Vidal to The House of Sandeman hostel, and Hugo Makarov to Sandeman Terrace, the latter two located in Vila Nova de Gaia. The result of their work is now available in Sandeman’s virtual art gallery, alongside works by artists such as Mário Belém and Camila Nogueira, as well as on the brand’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
Conceived and brought to life in partnership with WY Creative, this initiative stems from something Sandeman and the art world have in common: “Both art and wine require time to be appreciated, and that can be a challenge in the fast-paced era in which we live. Stopping to think, listen, observe, and feel was the challenge we set for these three up-and-coming artists, and the result is a collection of admirable works that enrich Sandeman’s artistic heritage,” explains Raquel Seabra, Executive Director of Sogrape. “Giving creators a platform is part of the brand’s history, but this was the first time we worked with three artists simultaneously under a common theme, and it’s fascinating to see how each of them continued our story through their artistic expression,” she concludes.
Reflecting on the need to pause in order to grow and get to know ourselves, the artists created unique pieces live, in the brand’s iconic spaces and under the watchful eyes of passersby. These works can now be viewed at The Sandeman Gallery. Fiumani created the sculpture “Alma na Lua,” which serves as an ongoing reflection on human evolution, industrial progress, and the impact these developments have had on natural ecosystems. The piece explores the challenges humanity faces today and the urgent need for reinvention.
Francisco Vidal’s painting draws a parallel between the antiquity of wine and the antiquity of painting. Inspired by the waters of the Douro River, this watercolor on paper was painted with water, but also with wine.
Hugo Makarov’s piece unfolds across different yet interconnected planes. The work highlights the characteristics and textures of the beverage, its roots and future, using materials from the frames of the pieces in an effort by the artist to connect the past to the present, thereby enriching the future.
Because time is a determining factor in appreciating both wine and art, Sandeman continues to promote and share with everyone an artistic vision of our time, making it timeless.
A journey through The Sandeman Gallery is also an opportunity to revisit its extraordinary heritage, recalling works, drawings, and paintings that are part of our collective imagination. Art has accompanied the brand since the early 20th century, whether through the acquisition of works by Royal Academy artists for use in promotional materials or through the moment when British artist George Massiot-Brown created the iconic figure “The Don” in 1928, combining the traditional sombrero of Jerez de la Frontera with the traditional black cape worn by Portuguese university students.
https://www.sandeman.com/sandeman-arts/