Berardo at the CCB

José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo is one of the few Portuguese billionaires who has one of the biggest collections of modern art in the world, from Art Deco to famous paintings like the Campbell’s Soup.

The CCB – Centro Cultural de Belém – in Lisbon is currently displaying the Museum Collection Berardo of Modern and Contemporary Art. Although some people may argue that it is not the right place to present it.
The entrance is free for all and that gives everyone the opportunity to live it.

The Berardo Collection is displayed in twelve rooms, plus some small extra spaces with special lights to show some videos. But in addition to this collection, the CCB also has some temporary exhibitions; last week it had one called Eccentric Paths, which occupied around six rooms. Due to the museum’s lack of organization, you couldn’t tell when one stopped and the other began.

The Portuguese collection is being showed in some rooms with good illumination and marvellous presentation; however there are others that seem quite forsaken. To see the whole compilation you have to walk back and forward, climb and descend stairs without a right tour, which confuses any visitor although every area has a guide.

The Berardo collection is so wonderful that you can’t believe that it all belongs to just one man. I must say that the surrealism works of art are neither the most known nor beautiful. Still the minimalist sculptures and paintings will definitely surprise anyone.