Family Game (2023) by Gustavo Sanches de Castro - subjektiv.art
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Gustavo Sanches de Castro
Artist from Portugal
Gustavo Sanches de Castro (Espinho, 1986) breaks away from the rigor of drafting
to explore the catharsis of abstract expressionism. Since 2018, he has used purely
tactile painting as a tool for liberation, merging body and canvas in a tense balance
between chaos and tranquility. Influenced by the precision of architecture and
engineering, his aesthetic research progressively expands into three-dimensional
space, giving physical substance and volume to the visceral gesture.
With international exposure, key highlights include exhibitions at the Casa Portinari
Museum and the Pinacoteca Fórum das Artes (Brazil), as well as participation in
the Alentejo International Biennial. In Portugal, his career includes exhibitions at
the Lamas Museum, Forte de S. João da Foz, and CAE Figueira da Foz.
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Gustavo Sanches de Castro
Artist from Portugal
Gustavo Sanches de Castro (Espinho, 1986) breaks away from the rigor of drafting
to explore the catharsis of abstract expressionism. Since 2018, he has used purely
tactile painting as a tool for liberation, merging body and canvas in a tense balance
between chaos and tranquility. Influenced by the precision of architecture and
engineering, his aesthetic research progressively expands into three-dimensional
space, giving physical substance and volume to the visceral gesture.
With international exposure, key highlights include exhibitions at the Casa Portinari
Museum and the Pinacoteca Fórum das Artes (Brazil), as well as participation in
the Alentejo International Biennial. In Portugal, his career includes exhibitions at
the Lamas Museum, Forte de S. João da Foz, and CAE Figueira da Foz.
Whose work did this artwork remind you of?
Contribute your perspective to the community & earn rewards. Leave your reflection below.
“Family Game” is a visual and emotional exploration of the evolution of family
dynamics and their constant state of flux. Grounded in the premise that “family is
like a puzzle,” the artwork materializes this metaphor through a complex physical
structure: the merging of several canvases of different sizes, bound together on a
balsa wood base that provides the stability required for them to coexist.
The composition presents itself as na irregular and dynamic puzzle. Expressed in
shades of white, black, and red/burgundy, the palette suggests the intensity of
blood ties, as well as the purity and shadow of shared moments. The touches of
gold emerge as a unifying element—the light that honors the scars and the new
pieces that time brings.
The artwork reflects both the fragility and resilience of the family unit: when a
member or a “piece” is removed, the puzzle changes irrevocably; yet, the family
regenerates with the arrival of new figures who become part of this game of
affection. In “Family Game,” Gustavo Sanches de Castro posits that family is not
merely a biological heritage, but a construct made of those who choose us and
those we decide to include. It is a celebration of the real family—one that, despite
being irregular and ever-changing, remains complete in its imperfection.
Gustavo Sanches de Castro (Espinho, 1986) breaks away from the rigor of drafting
to explore the catharsis of abstract expressionism. Since 2018, he has used purely
tactile painting as a tool for liberation, merging body and canvas in a tense balance
between chaos and tranquility. Influenced by the precision of architecture and
engineering, his aesthetic research progressively expands into three-dimensional
space, giving physical substance and volume to the visceral gesture.
With international exposure, key highlights include exhibitions at the Casa Portinari
Museum and the Pinacoteca Fórum das Artes (Brazil), as well as participation in
the Alentejo International Biennial. In Portugal, his career includes exhibitions at
the Lamas Museum, Forte de S. João da Foz, and CAE Figueira da Foz.
