PORPHYRIAN NET [1]
[Non Periodical Publication]
Documentary and Contemporary Photography: Architecture, City and Territory
About this book:
Porphyrian net [1]
non-periodical publication
Author: dos Santos, Mickael
Date of publication: 2014
Place of publication: Porto
Publisher: Self-published
Number of pages: 32
Size: 21x15 cm
Illustrated: Image, Text
Number of copies: -
Institution: FAUP/CCRE
Language: Portuguese, English
Key-words: Photography, Architecture
Notes: Artist book; Photobook made in the course of Communication, Photography and Multimedia, from the Integrated Master in Architecture of FAUP
Book Reference: A1.nPaP.1108
“The characteristic of urban space that I consider the most important is the ephemerality. Urban space is the place of change and evolution, meaning not only the passage of people but also the passage of time which puts it in a constante state of transit and impermanence. (...)
Through this work I want to show the links between artificial and natural. The Botanical Garden is currently the theater of big renovations that affects his practice and his appearance. This transition period develop a dialog between artificial and natural and allows to investigate new aesthetic narratives. (...)
It's in this new aesthetic form that I develop this work which can find an explanation through the concept of the Porphyry Tree. The tree trunk is here replaced by the net that allows a dialogue between reality and fantasy, transient and persistent, animate and inanimate, vegetation and artificial, all bringing out a new visual language. The net as only possible body for this new creature that can't be qualified by words. This narrative reminds us that the Botanical Garden is an artificialised nature created by human hand.”
Mickael dos Santos
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