Helder Guimaraes

08/03/2024

Lucky me to have you in my life
And happy day to all women in the world.

02/01/2024

Back to Work.

30/12/2023

2023 was indeed a magical year. Wishing everyone an amazing 2024, filled with truly unforgettable moments, love in abundance to give and receive, a bit of luck along the way, and the opportunity to stop once in a while and appreciate beauty in this crazy world we live in.

24/12/2023

White Christmas.

16/11/2023

41. #41

04/11/2023

This is a photo from August 1018. I took it to remember a few details in new composition I had just created, as I often do. It’s one of the new pieces I will debut this year in Remember & Forget, my newest experience. I am fascinated how long certain creative processes are, especially because I don’t feel so much time went by. I am in practice mode for the first performances and can already feel how excited I am to share these new pieces with people form around the world. If you are interest in learning more, you can visit:

http://rememberandforget.com

&forget

20/10/2023

1997. I was 14 at the time and was invited to perform on the Close-Up Gala of a Magic Festival in Portugal. The other performers in the line-up were Eugene Burger, Darwin Ortiz, and Juan Tamariz. I had seen Eugene and Juan’s work before, but at that time the only references I had from Darwin were is books At the Cards Table, which I like, and Cardshark, which instantly had become a favorite of mine. After the gala, I gently approached Darwin for him to sign my copy of Cardshark. He was so nice to me, and encouraged me keep pursuing my dream. I remember talking with him about some of the routines in that book, specially the construction of The Showdown. He quickly took the deck of cards from my hand and went over a few advanced sleights and explained them to me, as alternatives to the original published version that made it slightly easier for me to perform it. I can tell you that was rare.

There are many ways in which you can leave this world a little better than before. Darwin’s did that routines he shared with the community in books that were carefully written. We met a few times after this in different places, and although he was a reserved person, to me he was always nice. Thank you, Darwin, and Rest in Peace. I will treasure that first encounter and what it meant for my 14 year old self.

10/10/2023

I am proud to announce “Remember and Forget,” a project I have been working on and off for 5 years. As many of you know, I love creating immersive experiences and sharing them with small groups. But being site-specific performance pieces, it’s impossible to travel from location to location with these creations. I started asking myself “Is it possible to create an immersive experience in someone else’s space?” After 5 years of developing it, I finally design an immersive experience that can happen in (almost) any room. Families, groups of friends or co-workers can now experience Helder’s storytelling and sleight-of-hand up close in a place if their choice. Conceptually inspired by The Aleph, the Jorge Luis Borges short tale, “Remember and Forget” explores what is meaningful to us, the importance of memory in shaping who we are, and all the things we can’t forget.

For more information, visit http://rememberandforget.com

29/06/2023

The latest post on the Journal of Curiosities.

Magicians have been known for once in a while, revealing their secrets. It is not common practice, but a minor revelation in the bigger context of the performance can enhance the secretive hard work that goes on.

25/06/2023

One month of this beautiful and joyful journey. Many lessons learned and many more to come.

23/06/2023

The longest night of the year is just starting.

27/05/2023

My world.

07/05/2023

My mother is the best, and today I celebrate her and all the good things she taught me in my lifetime. I love this photo of us. Feliz Dia da Mãe!

25/04/2023

Announcement: In precisely one year, I will debut a new show called The Hope Theory, directed by Frank Marshall, at the Geffen Playhouse. Excited about this one, a deeply personal vision of America from the my immigrant eyes. On a first for the Geffen Playhouse, this show will also have performances in Spanish. Can’t wait to see you all there! #2024

18/04/2023

Time Travel.

06/04/2023

Porto Time.

28/03/2023

That’s how happy I am when I perform in a theater. Happy Theater Day!

Photo from Invisible Tango, directed by and staged at

Set Designer
Light Designer
Music Composer
Sound Designer
Dramaturg
Stage Manager

Love you all!

18/03/2023

A new dimension of love.


・・・
✨

08/03/2023

The most beautiful thing about being a woman.


・・・
A espera mais bonita✨

Vou ser mãe pela primeira vez e faltam me as palavras para descrever como me tenho sentido. Nos últimos meses tenho vivido muitas emoções e mudanças. Muita ansiedade, confusão, felicidade, dúvidas, sorrisos, lágrimas, mais fome, algumas insónias mas com uma única certeza: o bebé que vem aí vai ter uma família que o vai encher de Amor.

Este dia 8 de Março tem um significado novo para mim. Feliz dia a todas as Mulheres! 🌸

07/03/2023

Color Pallet.

06/03/2023

Happy 50th, Closing Time! Still, one of my favorites.

25/02/2023

Blue Sky.

06/02/2023

I am overwhelmed by the response to Project H. I received hundreds of messages and I have not yet been able to read all of them. I will try to have an update about it in the next few weeks, but if you have not yet participated and you’d like too, go to thisishelder.com and on the top right corner of the home page enter the “PROJECT H” page to read more about it and participate. Thank you to everyone who took a little bit of their time to answers those three questions and to everyone that will answer now.

20/01/2023

Yesterday, I went to a screening of “38 at the Garden” with director and producers and Q&A afterwards. The movie is on HBO and you can watch the final result, which is fantastic. No spoilers here.

But what I loved yesterday was to understand how the project was born and the motivations to make it a reality. As someone that works with the impossible all the time, to understand that that was the trigger that ignite this doc, besides playing a crucial part of the storytelling elements that unfold, was magical and warmed my heart. Don’t miss the opportunity to see orbit to also hear these artists speak about it.

19/01/2023

Yesterday, I started something new. If you read my newsletter, you already know. But if you don’t, let me briefly explain:

Last week was a difficult one. We had to cancel the last two weeks of Back to Wonder performances due to flooding in our venue. Between the permanent damage it created on some of my belongings and the emotional rollercoaster I felt, I couldn't stop thinking about the famous "Be Water" saying from Bruce Lee:

"Be Water, My Friend. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water into a cup; it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

In the middle of all this, I started to question myself: can I really “be water”? And if so, how? This is my answer: PROJECT H

I am starting a collaborative project with my supporters. I don’t know what this will become, which is part of the fun. I will ask you three simple questions to get the ball rolling. Your answers will shape the project. Go to thisishelder.com and enter. Up top on the right of the Home Page you will find the page link for PROJECT H.

Whatever this ends up becoming, you know that it begins now.

13/01/2023

As I am dealing with this unforeseen situation, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for all the messages and support I have received in the last few days. Boxes of findings, notebooks and clippings I collected over decades have been permanently damaged but knowing that humans can be so supportive of others in a moment like this is a beautiful thing. I am going to focus on that for now. Thank you all, it means more than what you can image.

11/01/2023

Yesterday was a difficult day. The last two weeks of Back to Wonder had to be canceled due to flooding in our venue. Between the permanent damage it created and the emotional rollercoaster I felt, I kept remembering all the good moments I had during this adventure — the lucky ones who got to see it know how special this experience was. Honestly, I wish more people had seen it. Back to Wonder will not be up again, but the show's illusions, stories, and ideas don't end here. Yesterday, as I was looking at the wall dripping wet, I couldn't stop thinking about the famous "Be Water" saying from Bruce Lee: "Be Water, My Friend. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water into a cup; it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend." The next few weeks will be difficult as I navigate this unforeseen event. But I know one thing: I will be water, my friends.

01/01/2023

Happy New Year! 2023 will be filled with surprises and mysteries. Enjoy the ride! #2023

31/12/2022

2022 was an amazing year, with so many nuances and learning curves. My 40’s birthday, getting married, performing Back to Wonder, being involved in a few secret projects and many other joyful moments along the way. But I have a feeling that 2023 will be even better. Really looking forward to the new year and all its new adventures. Wishing everyone a fantastic 2023!

Photo by

#2022 #2023

27/12/2022

My friend short movie The Lone Wolf got shortlisted for this year’s Oscars by . I am very happy that his work os being recognized like this and hope he can get a final nomination. To all my followers and voters of the Academy, watch it free on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RHO9SoQ-z-Q