Inhabit the Contradiction

Mar 27

Editor: Rui Mateus Amaral

The book contains notes by the exhibition curator and catalogue editor, Rui Mateus Amaral, who introduces readers to the exhibition project, providing an in-depth account of its genesis and development, focusing on the dialogue between Bunga’s work and selected pieces from the CAM collection. The notes describe both Bunga’s new and existing works, as well as their configuration within the space, with the intention of opening up multiple points of access to the exhibition, leaving room for individual interpretation.

The catalogue also contains essays by various authors written especially for the occasion—Rina Carvajal, Roland Groenenboom, Omar Kholeif, November Paynter, and Catarina Rosendo.

The content is complemented by a new section of DNA 2015–25, a dictionary-style book series that Bunga began in 2015. The terms, which the artist defines in his own unique way, are keywords that allow the reader to enter into Bunga’s current thought process, and into his particular approach to the world of art.

There’s also a rich picture section, mainly dedicated to site-specific works and performances: a series of installation views, video stills, and performance views alternate with photographs, published for the first time, documenting the installation and assembly process of numerous exhibitions and works. Like a slide show, this image gallery offers a unique and generous insight into Bunga’s working method through the main projects the artist has worked on between 2019 and 2025. The poster enveloping the book completes the documentation, providing a snapshot of the installation of Inhabit the Contradiction at CAM – Gulbenkian, Lisbon.

AVAILABLE HERE