Being / Seeing exhibition design (Lisbon)

Being / Seeing presented the work of seven new and emerging photographers – Andrej Lamut, Charlotte Mano, Glorija Lizde, Mark McGuinness, Ramona Güntert, Sofia Okkonen, and Toms Harjo – at the Mercado de Santa Clara in Lisbon, Portugal.

The exhibition featured key themes concerning ‘being’ or what it means to ‘be’, by either exploring the self, (sub)consciousness, our relation to others, or the body. By means of using their unique photographic languages, the artists were able to ‘see’ and capture abstract concepts related to the self and/or the body. They make visible things that have remained invisible or overlooked by others. Each project can be considered as processes and visual explorations, rather than answers to the questions they raise: "How do the perceptions of others affect our sense of self?" "How do we shape our lives around others’ preconceived ideas?" And "how do we make sense of our own physicality?" Through combining ideas of well-being and well-seeing, Being / Seeing reflects on how we relate to other people’s experiences through seeing.

The artists and and I, as the curator, participated in the first cycle of PARALLEL, a European Platform that brings together creative organisations committed to promoting cross-cultural exchanges and mentorships in order to set new standards in contemporary photography. Parallel Review presented together, and for the first time, the work created by emerging artists and curators during the 1st cycle of PARALLEL – European Photo Based Platform.