Portfolio
You can download my portfolio in PDF format here.
Statement
I’m a Brazilian artist based in Berlin. Since an early age I had a deep appreciation for the mundane beauties of daily life, often losing myself while absorbing small moments usually not deemed as special. The need to share this experience has led me to create art that encourages the viewer to pay close attention. My art encourages us to be in the present moment, contemplate in order to find its deeper reality. As we observe, we can see our own reflection and form connections not only with our surroundings but also with others, making us complete. Through the images I play with the subconscious leaving a trail with symbolic nuances and surrealism, drawing visual metaphors to spark curiosity and wonder.
A photograph starts with sessions of stream-of-consciousness writing, some portions becoming poems and others serving as references for sketches. The drawings serve as a guide for production, with prospective studies of materials, location, models, time, and other scene-specific conditions. After production, I develop and digitize the films with minimal to no editing, all visual effects are practical, as a celebration of the unfiltered and genuine. Given the abstract nature of the photos, using black and white film is a deliberate choice to draw the viewer's attention to shapes, contrast, and textures. I overlook any photographic technicalities in order to tell the story; the images serve the purpose, not the opposite. If there is no journey to be taken, then there is nothing.
I create what I would like to see when entering a gallery space, striking a balance where the art is approachable without underestimating the spectator. I ask the audience philosophical questions like ‘what makes the present moment worthwhile’ and allow for open conversation so that everyone can add their own pieces of the puzzle. In our current fast-paced everyday life, the work acts as an invitation to get immersed in the now, spark meaningful conversations and inspire a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
About
I was born and raised in the Rio de Janeiro where I started to photograph the streets in 2016. In 2017 I moved to Berlin and in 2018 my first zine was released, right after analog photography became my main medium. Same year I started to collaborate with FKKollektiv - a collective of international photographers in Berlin - where my images started to gain more depth and were exhibited for the first time in early 2019.
Solo Exhibitions
All paths brought us here
2022 - Redah Art Haus, Berlin
Group Exhibitions
Final Bloom
2020 - FK Gallerie, Berlin
Everything Home is Far Away
2020 - FK Gallerie, Berlin
FUTR.1
2019 - FK Gallerie, Berlin
Publications
- 2018 - Contemplation Exercises
Contact
For inquiries about editorials, portrait sessions and/or collaborations send me an e-mail:
contact@leonardocouto.com