Curated by Carlotta Mazzoli
1 March – 30 April, 2025
Capela De Santo António,
Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal
Gís Marí is honoured to present Paisagens do Inefável, the first solo exhibition in Portugal by the Dutch-born artist. Organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Montemor-o-Velho and Conceived Realities, the exhibition will open on March 1, 2025, at the historic Capela De Santo António. This event marks a significant milestone in Gís Marí’s career and celebrates his profound connection to Portugal’s natural landscapes.
Curated by Carlotta Mazzoli, the exhibition will remain open to the public until April 30, 2025. Having made Portugal his home in recent years, Gís Marí invites audiences into a meditative dialogue with his work, where the rhythms of nature harmonize with the timeless essence of the human spirit.
About the exhibition
Set against the evocative backdrop of the Capela De Santo António, Paisagens do Inefável features five monumental paintings. Created over the past two years, the works explore the dynamic interplay between movement and stillness, reflecting the artist’s profound connection to the landscapes of Portugal. Each painting serves as an open window into Gís Marí’s intricate process, which mirrors the forces of nature itself: erosion, rebuilding, and transformation over time. Through vibrant, meditative compositions, Gís Marí achieves a delicate yet powerful balance, inviting viewers to engage with his works as living entities that echo the rhythms of the natural world.
About the Venue
The Capela De Santo António, a restored historic chapel in Montemor-o-Velho, has been reimagined as a cultural space within the castle’s visitor circuit and provides a fitting venue for Gís Marí’s evocative work. Although its exact origins remain uncertain, the chapel is thought to date back to the 11th or 15th century. Over time, it endured structural changes, abandonment, and near-demolition before its restoration began in 2016. Today, the chapel stands as a testament to the enduring connection between past and present, making it the ideal setting for Gís Marí’s timeless exploration of landscapes and emotions.
With the support of the Municipality of Montemor-o-Velho
THE ARTIST
Born in the Netherlands and based in Portugal, Gís Marí (born Gijs Maris in Haarlem, 1991) is known for his large-scale, abstract, expressionistic oil paintings. Originally studying psychology in Leiden, he was drawn into the world of painting when his apartment became his first studio. Instead of preparing for exams, he immersed himself in art. In his early twenties, he left university to dedicate his life entirely to painting.
Marí’s artistic journey began in Amsterdam, where he worked for two years at NDSM Wharf. However, discomfort with the city’s increasing gentrification led him south to Porto, where he transformed an abandoned industrial space into his home and atelier. After four intense years of work, he relocated to an old rice warehouse in the port town of Figueira da Foz, where he currently lives and paints. For Marí, painting is a slow and meditative process, rooted in old-world values at odds with modern demands for speed and efficiency. He works on each piece for months, sometimes years, engaging in an ongoing dialogue with the canvas. Only his finest works are signed, while others are destroyed. Believing in the physical presence of his work, he avoids social media, insisting that a painting must be experienced in person.
Marí’s practice is an exploration of energy and emotion. He aims to provoke a response in the viewer—whether joy, sorrow, or contemplation—believing that art is meaningful when it leaves a lasting impact. He sees himself as a messenger, translating visions from his inner world into the shared external realm, much like Hermes from Greek mythology. This process, requiring deep concentration and solitude, ensures the uniqueness of each piece. Nature remains Marí’s greatest teacher. Growing up in Amsterdam, he was influenced by the phrase Natura Artis Magistra—“Nature is the teacher of art.” He finds artistic mastery in the symmetry of a snail shell, the tension of an eagle’s claw, or the vivid contrast of a red berry against green leaves. These elements, perfected by nature long before human artistic theories, inspire his compositions.
For Marí, signing a painting is akin to cutting a lifeline—it marks the moment the work becomes independent. Though nurtured with care through materials, titles, and preservation, the painting ultimately stands on its own, ready to engage with the world and its viewers.
WORKS ON DISPLAY
