Stories of the Collection VII

Spanning the period from 1983 to the present day, Stories of the Collection summarises key moments in the formation of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Collection. Across distinct points and through the presentation of its most important acquisitions, we follow the desires, tastes, policies and circumstances of each specific moment of the collection’s development: The Decorative Collection (1983-89); The Art Collection (1990-97); Diversification (2000-04); Photographs (1991 and 2004); Precision (2004-08 and 2014); Prints (2007); Donations and Bequests (1967-2021); Resuming Acquisitions (2020-21); New Acquisitions: renowned artists (2022 and 2023); New Acquisitions: mid-career artists (2022 and 2023); Caixa Contest for Young Artists (2022 and 2023).

On 19 April 1994 the CGD Daily Council authorises the acceptance of artworks in accord and satisfaction of existing debts. After assessing the proposed list of works, Fernando Calhau selected 24 works by 21 artists: Alberto Carneiro, Ana Vieira, André Gomes, Artur Rosa, Cristina Ataíde, Ernesto de Sousa, Helena Almeida, Isabel Garcia, José Loureiro, José Paulo Ferro, José Pedro Croft, Julião Sarmento, Manuela Almeida, Maria João Salema, Miguel Branco, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Pedro Calapez, Pedro Portugal, Rui Chafes, Rui Sanches and Valente Alves.

Since 1987, works have been incorporated into the CGD Collection through donation by the artists themselves: Ana Hatherly, António Ole, Carlos Nogueira, Jorge Martins, José M. Rodrigues, Júlio Pomar, Menez, Noé Sendas and, more recently, Bruno Zhu, Gabriela Albergaria, Manuel Botelho and Carlos Nogueira, among others; or by their legal heirs, as in the case of Geraldo de Barros and Júlio dos Reis Pereira. In other situations, artists have donated works following exhibitions organised by Culturgest (including artists such as Ana Jotta, Bruno Pacheco, Francisco Tropa, Leonor Antunes and Pedro Diniz Reis).

On the occasion of the flag exhibition "Pode a arte ser afirmativa?" [Can art be affirmative?], (21.03 - 21.04.1997) on the promenade of the west façade of the CGD building (Rua Arco do Cego, Lisbon), programmed by António Pinto Ribeiro, the participating artists also donated the works specifically created for the exhibition: Alexandre Conefrey, Ângela Ferreira, Cristiane Möbus, João Penalva, Jimmie Durham, João Penalva, Julian Opie, Konstantin Kakanias, Lina Menna Barreto, Marie-Jo Lafontaine, Mariko Mori, Marin Kasimir, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Rui Chafes, Pume and Pedro Cabrita Reis.

In March 2001, the Board of Directors (BoD) deliberated on the merger of Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU) with CGD and, consequently, the incorporation of its assets. Given the characteristics of the different types of heritage (including furniture, maps, graphic works, sculptures, paintings) and their chronology (with works dating from the 19th century), these assets were distributed into either the decorative collection under the tutelage of CGD's Historic Heritage Office (GPH), or into CGD's Contemporary Art Collection, which would be managed under the aegis of Culturgest from 2006.