ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Silvestre Pestana's 'Collapse' installation explores technological obsolescence at Galeria Municipal do Porto

exhibition · 2026-04-09

Silvestre Pestana presents 'Collapse,' a new installation at Galeria Municipal do Porto that examines technological decay through light, architecture, and language. The work uses LED devices as metaphors for ruin and excess, referencing urban landscapes while revisiting earlier artistic concerns. Born in 1949 in Funchal, Pestana began his career in the 1960s as a visual poet before expanding into performance, video art, and digital practices. His transdisciplinary approach investigates intersections between art and technology, treating poetry as a critical tool for questioning contemporary relationships with technological progress. The exhibition features an available booklet online at galeriamunicipaldoporto.pt. Pestana's long-standing practice includes anti-war activism and public art education work.

Key facts

  • Silvestre Pestana created installation 'Collapse' for Galeria Municipal do Porto
  • The work uses LED devices as metaphors for technological obsolescence and ruin
  • Pestana explores intersections between art, technology, and poetry
  • The artist was born in 1949 in Funchal
  • He began his career in the 1960s as a visual poet
  • Pestana works across performance, video, photography, and digital media
  • He is known as a pioneer of video art and cyberspace art
  • Pestana has been involved in anti-war activism and public art education

Entities

Artists

  • Silvestre Pestana

Institutions

  • Galeria Municipal do Porto

Locations

  • Porto
  • Portugal
  • Funchal

Sources