A Conversation With… Luis Seixas

BY NATALIE VELEZ

Luis Seixas – accomplished art conservator, musician, educator, and alumnus of the prestigious Universidade Nova, Lisbon – is one of those people who can engage you in a fascinating conversation in a heartbeat. His most recent project – live conservation of a 4-century-old Spanish tabernacle at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts – gained widespread media attention. Yet, there is so much more to Seixas beyond art conservation.

I was invited to sit down with Luis and his wife Eda in their welcoming home to learn about about his journey from his home in Portugal to St. Petersburg. His story is inspiring and shows how St. Pete attracts talented people from around the globe. Here are some snippets from our conversation.

Relocating from another country can be a challenge. Why relocate from beautiful Portugal to the United States, and St. Petersburg in particular, when you can pick any place on the map?

It is true. Portugal is a very attractive place to live and through the course of my career, we could indeed choose any place on Earth. Our story, however, is a story about love, support, and putting family first. After completing her PhD in cancer biology, my wife Eda was invited to pursue her research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. At that time, I was well-established in Portugal and had been working on a variety of art conservation projects as well as running a record label. As for Eda, her career in science started to bloom and we decided that it was time to pursue her dream. Naturally, I followed my talented wife.

Eda adds: It had to be warm, next to the ocean, with a rich art scene, great schools for our daughter, and other exciting opportunities. St. Petersburg just like Lisbon is one of the sunniest and most beautiful places we encountered. We had been visiting St. Pete while in Memphis, so moving here was an easy choice.

You have worked on many incredible art objects, UNESCO-protected included. Could you share some of the most memorable ones?

Each project is special. I remember working on a 16th-century sculpture of the Virgin with Child, French, from the National Museum. During the treatment, I discovered at least seven layers of overlapping paint. A transition from white to gold, and to expensive ultramarine blue on the mantel tells the story of what was fashionable at a certain period. I don’t have a favorite, each, no matter how big or small, has a special unique value. My goal is always to protect the exceptional identity of the art, without altering its historical and artistic meaning.

Do you work only with museums and art-related organizations, or do you also work with private collectors who may want to restore heirlooms?

As an independent contractor, I have the freedom to choose the projects I work on. I accept requests from museums, private collectors, and also from individuals who have art objects that were purchased or passed on generationally. I cherish my work, even the tiniest heirlooms, which can have merely sentimental value but are equally loved. I consider these smaller projects as gratifying as the ones I do for museums or even UNESCO sites. My goal is to uncover their complex history and decipher the tribulations they went through.

Art conservation work can be meticulous and precise. With one touch you can remove layers of history. Your work combines not only art and science, but also requires patience and discipline. How do you deal with the weight of that responsibility?

I am dealing with the pressure as any professional does. Like a doctor or a teacher, I rely on ethics, knowledge, experience, and lots of common sense, of course. The study and experience I underwent allow me to embrace and handle everything this profession can offer.

Although you spend much of your time conserving and restoring museum quality historical pieces, I see many contemporary paintings on your home walls. You told me you rarely buy and decorate your home with antiques, although of all people, you know its value. What satisfies your personal quest for home art?

I have been plugged into the world of cultural heritage - palaces, cathedrals, monasteries, small and big art objects, you name it. I am daily surrounded by historically rich art. While at home, I need a change of scenery. I prefer airy spaces and clean lines with functionality over exuberance. As for art, we buy from artists we personally know and connect with. Our home is filled with quite contemporary pieces. Many people, especially in the US, love and appreciate antiques. I believe it is a nice way to connect with the past, a nostalgia for the old days. Luckily for me, I can embrace both worlds every day.

I understand you are a popular musician in Portugal. Have you had a chance to create and perform music while living here in St. Pete?

Absolutely! Music is an important part of my life. I believe that creativity helps connect people and brings joy and happiness; it enhances our lives. I run a not-for-profit music label called Thisco, since 2000. We released over 80 albums with the support of the City Hall of Lisbon. I performed around Memphis, in Tampa, and recently here at Studio@620 with talented local musicians. I created the record label to connect with like-minded individuals and, above all support new talents.