The Salamander Effect Print

Luís Bastos, born in Elvas on March 2, 1975 and currently residing in the charming village of Sesimbra since his early days, is a notable Portuguese artist whose works transcend the conventional boundaries of art. His preferred themes revolve around depth psychology and philosophy, where art manifests itself as an extension of the human soul. Gifted with a unique talent for painting and drawing since childhood, the artist faced notable challenges during his youth. The initial influence of a professor whose authoritarian and traumatizing characteristics, combined with social and cultural adversities, left an indelible mark on his academic journey, thus determining his ability to fully explore his talent in this context. Today, almost 50 years old, the artist reflects maturely on how these experiences conditioned his relationship with art and his professional practice. In 2018, as an act of liberation from a troubled life, marked by emotional and professional turmoil, Luís Bastos found a transformative escape in art. A marital separation, permeated by a depressive emotional state, gave way to a new phase of self-discovery and artistic expression. He decides to invest professionally in his passion and rents a store where he immerses himself intensely in artistic creation. His work, which excels in a unique magic, has won admirers not only nationally, but also internationally, with collectors in the USA, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Italy, among other countries. Luís Bastos states with conviction that art not only transformed his life, but also represents the beginning of a journey that aims to recreate not only what is visible, but, above all, what one feels, therefore, as he poignantly puts it : "The essential is invisible to the eyes."