ACTOS DE LÍNGUA (2026)
James Newitt / Carlos M. Oliveira
James Newitt / Carlos M. Oliveira
4th september to 18th october, 2026
Carpintarias de São Lázaro, Lisboa
In this video installation, Carlos M. Oliveira and James Newitt bring together their respective practices of choreography and moving image, in order to address the bodily expression of language and the friction that occurs in communication between people.
The work highlights differences between languages whose expression passes through the body, exposing a multiplicity of modes of communication and their possible cohabitation. It explores a sensitivity to the diversity of bodies while blurring divisions between ability and disability. The idea of translation as equivalence of meanings is rejected, and instead the work considers meaning that is in permanent transformation, supporting other forms of common existence.
Actos de Língua problematizes what it means to live in a community made of differences, in which language is an act of constant translation and transmission: a social gesture that carries clarity and misunderstanding, as well as murmurs, tremors, and vibration.
Carpintarias de São Lázaro, Lisboa
In this video installation, Carlos M. Oliveira and James Newitt bring together their respective practices of choreography and moving image, in order to address the bodily expression of language and the friction that occurs in communication between people.
The work highlights differences between languages whose expression passes through the body, exposing a multiplicity of modes of communication and their possible cohabitation. It explores a sensitivity to the diversity of bodies while blurring divisions between ability and disability. The idea of translation as equivalence of meanings is rejected, and instead the work considers meaning that is in permanent transformation, supporting other forms of common existence.
Actos de Língua problematizes what it means to live in a community made of differences, in which language is an act of constant translation and transmission: a social gesture that carries clarity and misunderstanding, as well as murmurs, tremors, and vibration.
Artistic Direction: Carlos M. Oliveira e James Newitt
Videography: James Newitt
Choreography: Carlos M. Oliveira
Sound mix and composition: Diogo Alvim
Performers: Maria Meneses, Ana Trincão, Aliu Baio, Tarlie Lumbie, Ana Ribeiro, Tony Weaver Sound recording: Maria Khadija
LGP interpretation: Teresa Figueiredo
Audio description: José Gregório Rojas
Audio Description Consultancy: Aliu Baio
Audio Description Script Review: Mafalda Banquart
Lighting: Luís Moreira
Exhibition construction: David Leitão
Filming studio: Espaço Parasita
Artistic residencies: ARS-ID / Projecto Pontes, Associação Parasita
Executive production and administration: Lysandra Domingues
Production: Cotão
Co-production: Anda&Fala
Support: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, República Portuguesa - Cultura, Juventude e Desporto I DGARTES – Direção-Geral das Artes; Carpintarias de São Lázaro
Acknowledgments: Diana Niepce, Raquel André, Sofia Neuparth, Inês Cóias, Lucas Almeida, Carlos Fernandes, Thyra Dragseth, Sara Magno
Videography: James Newitt
Choreography: Carlos M. Oliveira
Sound mix and composition: Diogo Alvim
Performers: Maria Meneses, Ana Trincão, Aliu Baio, Tarlie Lumbie, Ana Ribeiro, Tony Weaver Sound recording: Maria Khadija
LGP interpretation: Teresa Figueiredo
Audio description: José Gregório Rojas
Audio Description Consultancy: Aliu Baio
Audio Description Script Review: Mafalda Banquart
Lighting: Luís Moreira
Exhibition construction: David Leitão
Filming studio: Espaço Parasita
Artistic residencies: ARS-ID / Projecto Pontes, Associação Parasita
Executive production and administration: Lysandra Domingues
Production: Cotão
Co-production: Anda&Fala
Support: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, República Portuguesa - Cultura, Juventude e Desporto I DGARTES – Direção-Geral das Artes; Carpintarias de São Lázaro
Acknowledgments: Diana Niepce, Raquel André, Sofia Neuparth, Inês Cóias, Lucas Almeida, Carlos Fernandes, Thyra Dragseth, Sara Magno
PROGRAM
The following program for the exhibition Actos de Língua, proposes to broaden its references and concerns by inviting a group of artists and academics who address themes as diverse as the non-normative body in the arts, the relationship between moving images and the movement of bodies, as well as the connections between expanded choreography and expanded cinema.
Friday, September 4th | 6 PM | Floor 1 and Terrace
OPENING
Saturday, September 12th | 6 PM | Floor -1
CRASH
with Diana Niepce
Presentation of excerpts from works by artists with disabilities, for an existentialist reflection led by choreographer and dancer Diana Niepce on the limits of art, ethics, and transgression. Works related to sadomasochism, the Holocaust, body transformations, and violent performances will be exhibited.
In Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Saturday, September 19th | 6 PM | Floor -1
3 FILMS OF ELAINE SUMMERS
Followed by a conversation with Sílvia Pinto Coelho and Ana Godinho
Elaine Summers' gaze invites us to follow her intriguing intermedial investigation. Seeing beyond what unmediated experience allows is a common theme in the three films in this session. "Two Girls Downtown Iowa" (1973) does this using slow motion, "Windows in the Kitchen" (1981) explores the tranquility of the camera's gaze fixed before a huge window, where the dancer Matt Turney (one of the first Black dancers in Martha Graham's company) dances a solo by Summers. The third film, "Judson Fragments" (1965), is a rich testimony of the Judson Dance Theatre event, where one can sense the creative effervescence of a New York moment, where even Reverend Al Carmines [of Judson Memorial Church] participated among the celebrated artists of Lower Manhattan.
In Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Films by Elaine Summers are shown courtesy of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, with special thanks to the Artistic Estate of Elaine Summers.
Saturday, September 26 | 6 PM | Floor -1
SEGMENTS OF SCORES
with James Newitt and Carlos M. Oliveira
Departing from the Actos de Língua project, its two authors discuss the use of scores at the confluence between expanded choreography and expanded cinema. They discuss choreographic scores, recording scores, and montage scores, whether these are of images or of bodies in motion.
In Portuguese and English with Portuguese Sign Language Interpretation.
Saturday, October 3 | 2 PM | Floor -1
AUDIO DESCRIPTION IN THE VISUAL ARTS
with José Gregório Rojas
Short workshop with José Gregório Rojas, focusing on best practices in audio description within the context of visual arts, using the installation Actos de Língua as an example.
In Portuguese.
Saturday, October 3 | 6 PM | Floor -1
BODIES AND LANGUAGES
with Aliu Baio, Ana Ribeiro, Ana Trincão, Maria Meneses, Teresa Figueiredo, Tony Weaver, and Diana Niepce
Roundtable with the interpreters of the installation Actos de Língua, focusing on the relationship between normative and non-normative bodies in the performing arts in Portugal, moderated by choreographer and dancer Diana Niepce.
Conversation in Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Saturday, October 10th | 6 PM | Floor -1
THE TUBA THIEVES
with Ellie Ga and Ana Ribeiro
Screening of the film The Tuba Thieves (2023), by American director Alison O'Daniel, followed by a conversation with artists Ellie Ga and Ana Ribeiro about the relationship between body, image, and listening.
Film in English with descriptive subtitles and audio description in English.
Conversation in Portuguese and English with Portuguese Sign Language.
The film is shown courtesy of Open Captions LLC.
Saturday, October 17th | 7 PM | Floor 1
ACT—CONCERT
with Diogo Alvim
A concert by musician and composer Diogo Alvim, based on the multichannel device of Actos de Língua. The concert develops the various sound materials used in the installation, exploring different spatial and communicational relationships.
Sunday, October 18th | 6 PM | Floor 1 and Terrace
CLOSING
The following program for the exhibition Actos de Língua, proposes to broaden its references and concerns by inviting a group of artists and academics who address themes as diverse as the non-normative body in the arts, the relationship between moving images and the movement of bodies, as well as the connections between expanded choreography and expanded cinema.
Friday, September 4th | 6 PM | Floor 1 and Terrace
OPENING
Saturday, September 12th | 6 PM | Floor -1
CRASH
with Diana Niepce
Presentation of excerpts from works by artists with disabilities, for an existentialist reflection led by choreographer and dancer Diana Niepce on the limits of art, ethics, and transgression. Works related to sadomasochism, the Holocaust, body transformations, and violent performances will be exhibited.
In Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Saturday, September 19th | 6 PM | Floor -1
3 FILMS OF ELAINE SUMMERS
Followed by a conversation with Sílvia Pinto Coelho and Ana Godinho
Elaine Summers' gaze invites us to follow her intriguing intermedial investigation. Seeing beyond what unmediated experience allows is a common theme in the three films in this session. "Two Girls Downtown Iowa" (1973) does this using slow motion, "Windows in the Kitchen" (1981) explores the tranquility of the camera's gaze fixed before a huge window, where the dancer Matt Turney (one of the first Black dancers in Martha Graham's company) dances a solo by Summers. The third film, "Judson Fragments" (1965), is a rich testimony of the Judson Dance Theatre event, where one can sense the creative effervescence of a New York moment, where even Reverend Al Carmines [of Judson Memorial Church] participated among the celebrated artists of Lower Manhattan.
In Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Films by Elaine Summers are shown courtesy of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, with special thanks to the Artistic Estate of Elaine Summers.
Saturday, September 26 | 6 PM | Floor -1
SEGMENTS OF SCORES
with James Newitt and Carlos M. Oliveira
Departing from the Actos de Língua project, its two authors discuss the use of scores at the confluence between expanded choreography and expanded cinema. They discuss choreographic scores, recording scores, and montage scores, whether these are of images or of bodies in motion.
In Portuguese and English with Portuguese Sign Language Interpretation.
Saturday, October 3 | 2 PM | Floor -1
AUDIO DESCRIPTION IN THE VISUAL ARTS
with José Gregório Rojas
Short workshop with José Gregório Rojas, focusing on best practices in audio description within the context of visual arts, using the installation Actos de Língua as an example.
In Portuguese.
Saturday, October 3 | 6 PM | Floor -1
BODIES AND LANGUAGES
with Aliu Baio, Ana Ribeiro, Ana Trincão, Maria Meneses, Teresa Figueiredo, Tony Weaver, and Diana Niepce
Roundtable with the interpreters of the installation Actos de Língua, focusing on the relationship between normative and non-normative bodies in the performing arts in Portugal, moderated by choreographer and dancer Diana Niepce.
Conversation in Portuguese with Portuguese Sign Language.
Saturday, October 10th | 6 PM | Floor -1
THE TUBA THIEVES
with Ellie Ga and Ana Ribeiro
Screening of the film The Tuba Thieves (2023), by American director Alison O'Daniel, followed by a conversation with artists Ellie Ga and Ana Ribeiro about the relationship between body, image, and listening.
Film in English with descriptive subtitles and audio description in English.
Conversation in Portuguese and English with Portuguese Sign Language.
The film is shown courtesy of Open Captions LLC.
Saturday, October 17th | 7 PM | Floor 1
ACT—CONCERT
with Diogo Alvim
A concert by musician and composer Diogo Alvim, based on the multichannel device of Actos de Língua. The concert develops the various sound materials used in the installation, exploring different spatial and communicational relationships.
Sunday, October 18th | 6 PM | Floor 1 and Terrace
CLOSING