Abstract of the accomplished photographic work
TODOS OS SÍTIOS (all the sites) is a photographic project that examines the transformation of Braga’s historic center, reflecting on how contemporary architecture and landscape have changed under urban renewal efforts. The Portuguese government’s Urban Rehabilitation Areas (ARU) initiative aimed to revitalize historic centers by offering financial incentives, tax breaks, and streamlined legal processes, in line with EU policies. However, introduced amid the 2008 economic crisis, the program inadvertently fueled gentrification, as working-class residents, facing financial strain, were often forced to sell their homes to large corporations. This led to a speculative housing market, creating a disconnect between the historic heritage of these areas and the financial motives driving their redevelopment. The images comment on the social and historical forces reshaping urban centers, presenting an allegorical map of modern urban landscapes that resonates beyond the city of Braga.
Description of the project you intend to pursue through the Prize
The photographs of TODOS OS SÍTIOS capture shifting landscapes, aligning with WJT Mitchell’s view of landscape as a cultural construct. Using close-up, portrait-oriented compositions, the project emphasizes architectural details over sweeping views, moving beyond traditional conventions to adopt a documentary style infused with social critique and moral reflection. Developed through medium-format analog photography, the project reflects an ethos of building a relationship with the visible world, embracing the process and its imperfections. The next step is to extend this practice to analog printing and exhibit the work, ideally alongside a book that reflects its multilayered consciousness, intersecting photography, architecture, urbanism, history, and politics. Expanding the photographs’ meanings by pairing them with texts, maps, and archival images—akin to Xavier Ribas’ Nitrato—would deepen its impact, offering a rich, interdisciplinary exploration of the built environment.