Pêlo na Venta/Hair-Trigger

The first time this collection was shown to the public was on a real world barbershop in uptown Lisbon, called O Barbólogo and the following text is a context introduction to this work.

"Since immemorial times the barbershop has been a place of gathering that saw no race, creed or social status. It was a kind of social club where people discussed all sorts of matters, news - both local or planetary - were spread by word of mouth and ego's size constantly disputed. But this is the romanticized narrative of the place.

Many bad habits were lost along the way like the "no women allowed policy", the teeth removal and commissioned throat cuttings.

“Pêlo na Venta - Hard Trigger” was meant to be timeless but steals inspiration from to the roughness and decadence of the old west imaginary, reinforced by an apparent anachronism that makes it visually richer.

This set depicts a group of characters that could be representative of the diversity found on any modern barber. From the immigrant to the factory worker, the banker to the priest, every single one of them seems to have their twisted agenda. It invites the spectator to wander about their lives, habits, flaws and virtues.

I hope you all enjoy it.”

Nuno Maldonado Tuna, July 20, 2017