BOCA Biennial of Contemporary Arts Blurs Disciplinary Boundaries in Lisbon and Porto

The first BOCA Biennial of Contemporary Arts took place from 17 March to 30 April 2017 in Lisbon and Porto, initiated by John Romão. This event brought together cultural institutions to co-create 30 artworks, fostering equality among various art forms. Drawing inspiration from Zygmunt Bauman's concept of 'liquid modernity' and Paul Virilio's ideas on nomadism, the venues acted as 'temples' for cultural dialogue. Highlights included Héctor Zamora's Ordem e Progresso (2017) and Marino Formenti's 20-day online performance. Notable performances featured Tianzhuo Chen at Lux and Ulla Von Brandenburg's film. Resident artists such as Musa paradisiaca, François Chaignaud, Tania Bruguera, Salomé Lamas, and Florentina Holzinger examined the interplay of art and its context.