The name Viarco might not be a household name, but this factory has a long history dating back to 1907 and a story to tell.
The factory has weathered a city relocation, faced a dictatorship, and survived an economic crisis that nearly forced it to close. However, with determination and ingenuity, José Miguel Araújo, the great-grandson of the original owner, has resolved the problems that had already impacted the factory and many other Portuguese businesses.
José discovered that the old machines, which had been in the factory since 1941, had advantages which could still be used for modern-day production. This marked the beginning of their new fine arts products. Although machine-made, these products require meticulous care and handiwork in the final stage of production. This process would be unfeasible in a factory equipped with cutting-edge technology and automated equipment, focusing solely on large-scale production.
At Viarco, it is at gatherings among friends, artists, designers and others connected to the arts where artistic supply needs are identified and new product ideas generated. According to José, the support and creativity of friends and clients are crucial for the factory’s development. It was during one of these meetings that painter José Emídio told José about an experience with his father, António José Vieira Araújo. In the 1990s, the two men developed a mouldable graphite paste that could be mixed with water, thus addressing the need for suitable materials for large-scale work. Over time, watercolour graphite has evolved, and today, the company’s Art Graf range includes 16 products, all aimed at the visual arts. Among them are soft carbon pencils, which serve the same purpose as the mouldable paste but in the traditional pencil form, which makes it easier to create more precise lines.
The collaboration between ColorAdd, by designer Miguel Neiva, and Viarco led to the first inclusive pencil box for colour-blind individuals in 2010. ColorAdd is a project that allows colour-blind people to identify colours through intuitive symbols created from primary colours and combined so everyone can recognise a colour palette. This initiative resulted in a partnership that is 100% Portuguese.
For some time, the brand has been closely aligned with the arts, collaborating with designers, architects, illustrators, cultural associations, and all those who appreciate art. A good example is their artistic residencies, where the company provides space and supplies materials. The visual artist resides in Viarco’s studios, experiments with the materials provided, and shares his feedback, thus contributing to the ongoing development of the products.
One artist who has benefitted from this is Ricardo Pistola, who participated in the Viarco Express in 2009, an initiative inspired by the surrealist style of the Cadavre Exquis, but with the unique twist of each artist passing on a pencil used to draw on paper, clay pots, and write love letters. A hundred drawings were created by various artists, including Álvaro Siza Vieira, Paula Rego, Joana Vasconcelos and Julião Sarmento. Their work was exhibited at the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic. As Julião Sarmento observed, “The work of artists is very solitary.” In the Viarco Express, that solitude was replaced by solidarity as the pencil was passed on like a relay baton. The results were compiled in the book Um Século, Dez Lápis, Cem Desenhos – Viarco Express.
To reflect these evolutions, the factory also hosts a museum space where genuine treasures can be discovered: customised pencils featuring various Portuguese brands, ranging from wine and appliance brands to hotels, bakeries, and even Coca-Cola, an international brand. Viarco also featured in one of the largest exhibitions promoting Portugal’s history and culture – the 1940 Exhibition of the Portuguese World, organised by the Estado Novo.
Currently, Viarco pencils are available in various locations worldwide, including the MoMA in New York, Serralves, and soon, the MoMA in Tokyo. This Portuguese factory not only preserves Portugal’s history but also helps many create their own stories. Viarco is a versatile and creative brand that believes cooperation is essential to collective success.
Unleash your imagination with Viarco products, available at Mar d’Estórias.
