EX-VOTO
[Non-Periodical Publication]
Documentary and Contemporary Photography: Architecture, City and Territory
About this book:
Ex-voto
non-periodical publication
Author: Monteiro, Lucília
Date of publication: 2014
Place of publication: -
Publisher: Self-published
Number of pages: 94
Size: 26,8x22 cm
Illustrated: Photography, text
Number of copies: -
Institution: DAI-ESMAE-IPP
Language: English, Portuguese
Key-words: fragmented body; religious representation; organs; history
Notes:Originals captured on medium format 6x6, analog support, black and white negative
ISBN 978-989-20-4831-4
Book Reference: A1.nPaP.1042
"Ex-votos are elements that connect the body, the cure and the hereafter. The body is present, it is an object of mediation and connection, of articulation and bonding with the possibility of imprisoning disease in every ex-voto. When placed in a miraculous or supernatural space the disease has thus the capacity of being expurgated. (…)
In the case of photographic ex-votos, the dimension of photography is a social one. There is representation, bonding to the person and her/his identity. Here we have an attempt to solve the problem through a bond between divinity and the person, through a much more abstract relationship between a fragment of the body and divinity. (…)
This work is documental, artistic and anthropological. Photography lives in this movement between document and art.
A document can be anthropological, journalistic, social and political. Nowadays, photographs of every political nature can be exhibited in museums: the artistic message has a very obvious political content. This work is mostly artistic. The way it highlights the brightness of those objects against the black background refers to a look at objects that are not artistic objects. Ex-votos are nor artistic, but a look at them can be artistic. The photographer’s look is always a view that contaminates and gives sense to the objects. This photography has an anthropological dimension anchored in its time."
Lucília Monteiro
About this archive:
The creation of Cityzines collection intends to strengthen and promote the study and dissemination of author’s editions and other publications linked to the theme of architecture, city and territory, where the image and photography are present in a significant way, with a special interest and focus on the multifaceted richness of urban, architectural and visual culture that characterizes the urban agglomerations and their experiences.
This collection started with a survey more focused on the Portuguese context, but also integrates publications from other countries with a view to internationalization of the project.
The publications that will constitute this collection of the Cityzines project will be cataloged from the following general theme:
Artistic and Documentary Photography: Architecture, City and Territory
It was decided to start this collection by topic A1 - Artistic Photography and Documentary: Architecture, City and Territory, for reasons connected with only two facts: first there is at this time, a greater number of alternative publications pertaining to this topic, according by the fact that they had already been there longer subject specific study through the work of the research line City spaces and Culture of the CCRE group.
As we will see next, we have adopted a sub-theme structure in order to organize the field of alternative publications, covering several areas and formats, as previously described in the general theme of Documentary and Artistic Photography: Architecture, City and Territory. Even though all sub-themes show differences between them, they all fit the general theme and they have in common the focus and the importance given to image/photography, as well as the innovative and/or irreverent stance.
Artistic and Documentary Photography: Architecture, City and Territory
Periodical Author’s editions and other publications (A1.PaP)
- In general terms, periodical publications that reflect and investigate, through the image and /or photography, and in a critical, exploratory and innovative way, the themes of architecture, city and territory;
- fanzines, little magazines on photography: independent non mainstream publications where photography is used as the main visual instrument to perceive, understand and analyze architecture and how people live and appropriate diverse places;
- counterculture or non-mainstream publications focused on social and documentary or contemporary photography and related issues;
Non-periodical Author’s editions and other publications (A1.nPaP)
- In general terms, periodical publications that reflect and investigate, through the image and /or photography, and in a critical, exploratory and innovative way, the themes of architecture, city and territory;
- photo-books or/and artist books specifically more related to the universe of architecture: independent non mainstream publications where photography is used as the main visual instrument to perceive, understand and analyze architecture and how people live and appropriate diverse places;
- photo-books or /and artist books more related with documentary photography.
With this collection we intend to promote awareness and reflection upon art and documentary photography in regard to its conception as a tool to question Architecture, City and Territory. This means understanding Architecture as a broad subject and practice interested in, on the one hand, the real space and its experiences, exploring new spatial forms and architectural codes and, on the other hand, in how architecture operates within larger systems: sociocultural, technical, and historical systems.
The physical collection will focus on Portuguese printed objects only and it will work as a showcase travelling across several places in Portugal and abroad. This catalogue of Author’s editions and other publications will suport its dissemination, being also an important international tool to locate relevant and independent non-mainstream publications related to Artistic Photography and Documentary: Architecture, City and Territory.