20 CONGRESSO NACIONAL DE MUSEUS

Portuguese born artist Fernando Lemos became renowned in Brazil for his skill as a graphic artist after he was voluntarily exiled there in order to escape from the Salazar regime in Portugal. Lemos arranged his exit from Portugal after a period of intense monitoring by the political police who began to restrict his movement personally and as an artist. In Portugal Lemos had been popular largely for his surrealist photography but while he continued this in Brazil his exhibitions then became dependent on the graphic element of his work (Gulbenikian, Ferrando Lemos). His drawing spiralled Lemos into popularity when he was credited with the award for Best Brazilian Drawer in the IV Sao Paulo Biennial in 1957.