Informality as resistance_Exhibition

I believe that the space we inhabit influences our behavior. When people use that space in ways other than intended, they make a strong statement—whether consciously or unconsciously.

Before starting my residency, I didn’t plan a specific project because I wasn’t familiar with Zambujal and I wanted the project to be shaped by the local community. During the first week, I simply explored the area and got to know the residents. I then placed a map of the neighborhood outside the association where I was staying, making it easily accessible for people.

I asked the residents to mark a place on the map that held personal significance to them and share their thoughts in any way they wished. They then drew a symbol on the map with their name, so over time, the map itself could evolve into a collective artwork for the neighborhood, hopefully helping to bring attention on Zambujal’s urban design and the ways its spaces are used.

Once the map started to fill up with contributions, I began photographing the locations marked on it. As I did, I realized that some of these places had personal meaning to me as well, shaped by the connections I had made with the people during my stay.

In Layers, the interviews are intertwined to create an immersive audio track that captures the voices of Zambujal’s residents as they discuss their personal and communal spaces. A similar approach is used with the photographs, where the places blend together in layers of space.

This work displays an introduction to the neighbourhood by its own residents. It is not meant to be a start or an end, but a part of a collective process that aims to continue and evolve through the contribution of all the people involved.