Archipelago: Azores by Ricardo Lopes

A photographic book that takes us on a sensory journey through the Azores Archipelago. Through writing punctuated by carefully captured moments of light, the record is one of proximity and intimacy, making each photograph transcend symbolism and plunge into the beating heart of this magnificent territory. Sanctuaries of bio and geodiversity, the nine Azorean islands are captured here as a mere mimesis of reality, incorporating a look of exaltation of the different themes addressed, where singularity and vernacularity merge. The work also represents the culmination of a life project by the author, who has been able to construct the identity of this group of islands we call the Archipelago with photographic objectivity and without the apparent need to contextualize the image.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ricardo Lopes (1975, Lisbon) is a photographer with a background in design and cinema. He has worked as a designer, teacher, journalist, editor, videographer and creative director, but it is in photography that he feels the reciprocity to build his artistic landscapes. Nowadays, with a parallel path that is divided between photography and video, he considers his professional activity to be an integral part of his artistic activity, materialized in various creative campaigns that he has directed, both nationally and internationally. Seemingly focusing on common narratives, his work focuses on themes related to social, human and collective identity concerns that shape a contemporary approach and an aesthetic veiled in images of somewhat emotional sensitivity. He founded and co-directs Written-by-Light, an independent publisher of books and photographic publications.

“I would like everyone who visits the Azores to be aware of the importance of keeping the authenticity of this territory intact. May we all contribute to keeping it that way: raw, natural and preserved, without ever forgetting the people who populate these islands.”

— Ricardo Lopes