mono, located in Penha de França, Lisbon, is an artist-run space founded in 2019 by Hugo Cantegrel. It operates on three strands: a space that hosts and organizes contemporary art events (such as exhibitions, performances and dance shows), a set of working studios for artists and an artist residency program that welcomes eight artists a year. mono’s mission is to promote collective work between national and international artists in order to decode the future of alternative art centers. It positions itself as an artistic institution that seeks to enrich the development of critical thinking, concerned with questioning history, evolution, innovation and humanity.

The vision of an “artist-run-space” includes conditions of sustainability, interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism. It is a space that seeks to be environmentally conscious, promoting sustainable practices in all areas of activity. It also values collaboration between different artistic disciplines, encouraging the convergence of creative expressions. It also enables contact between artists from different backgrounds, with the aim of encouraging the exchange of perspectives and experiences, as well as providing opportunities for diverse artistic expressions.

History

Since its creation, mono has presented a diverse program that includes exhibitions, installations, performances and contemporary dance shows. Covering various artistic disciplines, mono has held over seventy events in the last five years.

Committed to fostering artistic innovation, mono’s collective and individual visual arts exhibitions highlight emerging national and international artists, offering a platform to showcase their work to the public and gain exposure and recognition. Previous exhibitions have included names such as Charli Tapp, João Pedro Fonseca, Rudolfo Quintas and Thomas Koenig.

The space also serves as a stage for a regular program of performances and dance shows covering a variety of genres. In doing so, mono continuously engages with the ever-evolving contemporary artistic and cultural scene. Artists such as Carincur, Lua Carreira, Hugo Marmelada and Katarina Lanier have already performed at mono.