Public art installation in Paços de Ferreira, Portugal
Meet the artwork
In Chairs, Cristina Rodrigues begins with the chair as a familiar object to create a reflection on the body, memory, local identity and public space. Comprising 30 three-dimensional sculptures in metallised iron, lacquered in red, each approximately two metres high, the installation symbolises human bodies from different generations, seated in various positions, yet without the physical presence of the chair. By removing this object from the composition, the artist transforms its absence into the central element of the work: the bodies remain seated, without any visible support, in positions that would be impossible to sustain without it.
“Chairs is born from the identity of Paços de Ferreira and the city’s deep relationship with furniture. The chair is present in almost every moment of our lives, yet we rarely stop to think about it. In this work the chair disappears, but the body continues to reveal its presence, its absence, and its memory.”
Recognised as “Portugal’s furniture Capital”, Paços de Ferreira has in its furniture industry one of its strongest and most distinctive marks. The chair – the piece of furniture most widely produced in the city – as an everyday, functional and symbolic object, accompanies different moments of life: the first meal, the first day at school, the first job, the dining table, conversation, work and rest.
The installation was conceived specifically for the Paços de Ferreira Urban Park. The red of the sculptures creates a direct contrast with the predominant green of the gardens, reinforcing the visual presence of the work throughout the day. At night the sculptures are illuminated with low-consumption LEDs, creating a distinct reading of the space and relationship with the park.
The inauguration of Chairs formed part of the commemorative programme marking the 25th anniversary of Gespaços S.A., the municipal company of Paços de Ferreira, and was developed in collaboration with Gespaços S.A. and the Paços de Ferreira City Council.
Cristina
Rodrigues
Meet the artist
Cristina Rodrigues is a Portuguese visual artist, born in Porto in 1980. She studied and began her professional career there as an architect, later moving to Lisbon and subsequently to the Algarve. In 2009 she moved to Manchester, United Kingdom, where she lectured at university, developed her doctoral research and started her career as an artist, which would later return her to her home country.
Cristina Rodrigues holds a PhD in Art & Design from Manchester School of Art (2016), a Master’s Degree in Medieval and Renaissance History from the University of Porto (2007) and an Honours Degree in Architecture from Lusíada University (2004).
Her artistic work has been presented across Europe, Asia and South America in numerous solo exhibitions. These include: A Leap in Time (2025), Museu do Côa; Blossom (2023), AP’ARTE Galeria, Porto; Mordomas (2022), Museu Municipal de Caminha; Cry of the High Tide (2021), at the Gardens of the National Archaeology Museum – Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon; at the Wharf of the Royal Customs, Vila do Conde; at the vineyard of the Monastery of Santo de Ancede, Baião; and outside the Ermesinde Cultural Forum; Crossing (2020), at Centro de Cultura Contemporânea, Castelo Branco, Portugal; Home is the Cathedral of Life (2019), at Naves Matadero, Madrid, Spain; The Horizon (2019), at Quinta da Cruz – Centro de Arte Comtemporânea, Viseu, Portugal; Echoes of the Sea (2018), at The Hillside Forum, Tokyo, Japan; The Shroud (2017/2018), at Naves Matadero, Madrid, Spain; The Kingdom of Heaven (2017), at Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, United Kingdom; A Retrospective (2017), at Centro de Cultura Contemporânea, Castelo Branco, Portugal; The Shroud, at Colombo Art Biennale 2016, in the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo, Sri Lanka; and La Pasión (2016), a monumental exhibition installed at 5 of the most iconic monuments in the city of Seville, Spain: Fundación Valentín de Madariaga y Oya, Portuguese Pavilion, Universidad de Sevilla, Casa de la Provincia and Real Alcázar de Sevilla.
Several of the artist’s works are held in museum and public collections, including: Manchester Cathedral and Cheshire East Council in the United Kingdom; Cultura Madrid (Ayuntamiento de Madrid) and Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) in Spain; Fundação Côa Parque; Museu Municipal Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso; the Municipality of Cascais; the Municipality of Castelo Branco; the Municipality of Viseu; the Municipality of Vila do Conde; the Municipality of Baião; the Municipality of Valongo; the Municipality of Caminha; and the Portuguese State.
The artist has also produced public artworks for corporate clients, including: Licor Beirão (Grupo J. Carranca Redondo, Lda.); Ferreira de Sá Rugs; FLY London (Grupo Kyaia); Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlets (VIA Outlets Group); ASCENDI; and SPV – Sociedade Ponto Verde.
Through her creations, Cristina Rodrigues draws imaginary narratives that connect her personal history, as a Portuguese woman in a global context, with a fantastical world of symbolism. Her installations are locally inspired, yet universal in meaning, guiding contemporary viewers through a transcultural and transtemporal journey.
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