About changes that are coming soon

[TIL #28] and an immersive exhibition of photographs that document the housing crisis in Lisbon

In life, i guess, everybody is just trying to figure things out. All the more so as circumstances and people keep evolving. I find it a calming thought, admitting that we’re all caught in processes of trying, learning, adjusting and trying differently when need be. And i like the perspective of being allowed to learn and do better. The famous inspirational mantra by Samuel Beckett may be taken from a darker passage of the writer’s work, but it nonetheless resonates with me:

try again. fail again. fail better.

With the freedom to experiment, comes the possibility of growth — sometimes unexpectedly.

I started the Tales of Ink and Light as an experiment, my only commitment being to write every week for one year. It has been truly rewarding so far. Writing on a regular basis clarifies thoughts and makes you see beyond your expectations. And I’m very grateful for the feedback i’ve received and the conversations i’ve had through the newsletter.

In the coming week, as the experiment continues, i’ll be bringing two changes to the Tales.

1. I will be moving the French version of the Tales to a separate newsletter. This will allow French-speaking readers to benefit from an interface in their own language, which is more comfortable and pleasant.

2. I will be opening paying subscriptions. While the Tales will remain accessible to free subscribers, i believe that bringing images and texts into the world has value and i’d like to present those who can with this possibility to support my work.

In the coming days, i will be sharing practical information on these two significant changes.

From a sketch to a final image

These two pictures are more initial sketches than final images. There is a place in the metro station of Cais do Sodré, in Lisbon, where light draws a really interesting pattern on the wall. It’s a good spot, but you need to work it, try different angles, and hope for that little bit of luck… It is a matter of experimenting.

I’ll go back, try again — fail better.

Cais do Sodré, Lisboa

Cais do Sodré, Lisboa

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This week, i enjoyed viewing exhibitions of Lucien Hervé and Ruth Orkin’s work at the Centro Cultural de Cascais. Both were truly good food for my artistic soul, but the one i want to write about is …

ROOF, an immersive exhibition

Photo-journalist Mario Cruz documented the housing crisis in Portugal for a decade. As a consequence of economic circumstances, low salaries and real estate speculation, a number of people found themselves without a home. Some sought refuge in some of the abandoned or uninhabited buildings that abound in Lisbon.

The work has resulted in an exhibition titled ROOF that was installed on the first floor of a beautiful, uninhabited mansion in the centre of the city. The photographs were hanged in the middle of a setting that evoked the living conditions of people in situation of economic vulnerability. Lost among a reconstitution of rudimentary living arrangements, the images were sometimes a relatively small detail in a room: at times, it could take you a couple of minutes to notice them.

ROOF - Mario Cruz

The scenography created an immersive experience that reinforced the visitors’ understanding of the issue. For sure, the public was walking through a clean, sanitised version of a squat: for instance, you would see buckets and a couple of toilet paper rolls, but you wouldn’t get the smell (not that i’d be asking for that).

Mario Cruz’ images are in themselves strong but this presentation was truly impactful. You could easily realise how a person tries to make the most of a room or two in a decrepit house with no heating, no electricity and no water. The most effective element of immersion was the venue, a magnificent property that is left to rot while a number of inhabitants can’t access decent housing conditions — the images were displayed right at the p(a)lace of the scandal they document.

ROOF - Mario Cruz

A few days after visiting ROOF, i passed by this piece of street art in the centre of Lisbon. It addresses the same issue of decent housing conditions for all and it’s been on that wall for a while but i found myself more sensitive to it this time. Visiting the exhibition certainly reinforced my gratitude for the comfort in my existence — it also offered a practical reminder of the importance of the context in which photographs are shown.

“Dreams are for those who sleep in beds” (tinta crua)

You can find out more about the work of Mario Cruz on his website.

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Cais do Sodré, Lisboa

That is all for this time, folks.

As always, thank you for being on board: it’s good to have you here.