The French artist will perform four different shows between November 29 and December 15 as part of the final celebrations of the city’s centenary celebrations.
As the City of Portimão’s centenary celebrations come to a close, the artistic programme Lavrar o Mar – Cooperativa Cultural, created to mark the occasion, is gaining new momentum.
For the first time in Portugal, four shows by French artist Johann Le Guillerm, recognised for his experimental, innovative, and multidisciplinary approach, will be performed over the course of two weeks, starting November 28.
Lavrar o Mar presents a small selection of the French multidisciplinary artist’s extensive work, featured within the unique poetic universe he has built over the years. His work “transcends the boundaries of the new circus, combining performance, sculpture, installation and other forms of art to explore concepts such as balance, transformation and perception, to reimagine the universe from different points of view”, says the cultural organisation.
The four performances include the culinary experience “Encatation“; the conference-performance “Le Pas Grand Chose“, in which Johann Le Guillerm himself decodes his artistic imagination; the tented show “Terces“, where he defies the laws of physics; and “La Transumante“, a “creature” built and deconstructed through the manipulation of 450 wooden beams.
This is a unique opportunity to get to know this inventor of theories and alphabets, made of points, lines and curves, from which Le Guillerm reimagines the universe, evoking different points of view tailored to the laws of physics, motion, gravity and light, among others.
The first show, which will be presented on November 28, 29 and 30 and December 1 at the Portimão Arena, is “Encatation“, a culinary translation of Johann Le Guillerm’s ideas by chef Alexandre Gauthier, distinguished with two Michelin stars. In this experience, the show merges with a meal and the audience is taken on a visual and gustatory journey, exploring flavours and movements in a unique and enchanting way.
“Le Pas Grand Chose” is the highlight of this Johann Le Guillerm quartet, recommended for those who want to better understand the essence of what the artist does. In the form of a “fake” lecture, the artist explains his unique and experimental approach to art, blending philosophical reflection, humour, and physical performance to explore the infinite possibilities of “almost nothing” (pas grand chose).
More than a presentation, “Le Pas Grand Chose“, performed on November 29 in the Portimão Museum auditorium, invites the audience to reflect on their perception of the world and the impact of insignificant and small gestures.
Deeply connected to Johann Le Guillerm’s artistic philosophy, which sees the world as an infinite experimentation laboratory, “Terces” is performed in a large circus tent installed in the Portimão Fair and Exhibition Park on December 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15. This historical show has evolved over the years as Johann Le Guillerm’s body inhabits this space and dialogues with the invisible forces that connect it (space and body), creating new performative acts.
The title “Terces“, the word secret written backwards, takes us back to the work’s central idea: exploring secrets, mysteries and inverted perceptions, in which Johann Le Guillerm reveals his magical facet.
Finally, on “City Day”, December 11, “La Transumante”, which combines art, architecture, and performance, will occupy the Praça 1º de Maio. La Transumante is a poetic and visually striking itinerant structure designed as a living sculpture. It is built and deconstructed as 450 wooden beams are manipulated by a team of performers, including some from Portimão’s community, through traditional fitting techniques.
In dialogue with the city’s square, this wooden “creature” gives rise to different “archtextures”, in a visual manifesto on the relationship between man, matter and environment, which can also be seen as a metaphor for the city’s transformation process.
Widely recognised for his creativity and innovation, Johann Le Guillerm, who studied at the Centre National des Arts du Cirque, has received accolades such as the Grand Prix National du Cirque and, twice, the Grand Prix SACD (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques).
This selection of performances, dedicated to the artist’s work, is part of the artistic programme created by Lavrar o Mar in partnership with the local municipality to celebrate the centenary of the City of Portimão (1924-2024).
Tickets are available on the https://portimao.bol.pt website, at TEMPO – Teatro Municipal de Portimão, Museu de Portimão, Portimão Arena, and participating BOL venues.
Detailed programme:
ENCATATION
November 28, 29, 30 and December 1 – Portimão Arena
Johann Le Guillerm – Cirque ici
Culinary Experience – M/16
Thursday and Friday – 19h30
Saturday and Sunday – 11h30/19h00
Duration: 90 min. approx.
Tickets: €12 (includes meal)
LE PAS GRAND CHOSE
November 29 – Portimão Museum Auditorium
Johann Le Guillerm – Cirque ici
Conference – Performance – M/12
Friday – 21h00
Duration: 75 min. approx.
Tickets: €5
TERCES
December 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 – Portimão Fair and Exhibition Park
Johann Le Guillerm – Cirque ici (França)
Lab – New Circus
Thursday, Friday and Saturday – 20h30
Sunday – 17h00
Duration: 75 min. approx.
Tickets: €10 (Adults) / €5 (Children 6 to 12 years old)
LA TRANSUMANTE
December 11 – Praça 1º de Maio, Portimão
Johann Le Guillerm – Cirque ici
Travelling installation – M/6
Wed – from 12h00 to 19h00
Free
