We are surrounded by photos. And this rush to take pictures and post them anywhere, anytime, has changed the meaning of photography. Photography became a business card, a commodity, a symbol of the contemporary ego, believes Joao Paulo Barbosa. Joao is a Brazilian photographer and historian, published 10 books and held exhibitions in 50 countries. His current project revolves around the influence of the Anthropocene on the cold zones of the world. He carried out 27 expeditions to Antarctica, Himalayas and Andes.
Joao Paulo Barbosa will share his experiences at UNFINISHED, among a vibrant community of global thinkers and makers. Part festival, part talks, part art, part undefined, the UNFINISHED experience gathers 3141 participants selected from those who apply.
”Silence is, along with freedom, one of the main themes of my life. In other words, it was a big surprise for me to learn that a big festival would have silence as its theme. Silence is, for me, a great wealth, a treasure. Silence is pleasure and enchantment. It is freedom and refuge, welcome”, says Joao.
We talked with Joao about photography and his journeys, art, nature and the need for silence:
Significant chapters of your evolution
I was adopted when I was one year and five months old. My father was an amateur photographer. At age 10, he taught me how to use the Canon A1 camera and gave me films to record the family's travels. He encouraged me to see the world with my own eyes. At 17, I took my first “big” trip independently. I went to Patagonia. The camera accompanied me, albeit timidly. At 21, I began to photograph with slide film and to better understand the power of light and colors. At 22, after my first trip to Africa, I started publishing in newspapers and magazines, and I never stopped.
Atacama, Chile. Photo: Joao Paulo Barbosa
The perspective on your role
First, everything interested me in photography. I always accepted all invitations to photograph, regardless of theme or subject. Over the years, with more experience and confidence, I started to develop long-term personal documentary projects, which made me realize that my photography could also contribute to the society around me.
Leh, Himalaya. Photo: Joao Paulo Barbosa
What inspires you
What always inspired me was Nature and Culture. Landscapes, species and ethnicities in transformation and in the process of disappearing and extinction. As I am also a Historian, I am interested in bringing Photography closer to History, whether natural or cultural. Currently, my main topic is documenting icy places on the planet.
#Unfinished
I learned about the existence of the Unfinished Festival through Capucine Gros, artistic director, with whom I traveled to Antarctica this year. As I have been researching the subject of silence for 10 years in Antarctica, the continent of silence, my interest in participating in the festival was immediate and natural.
How are you approaching this year's theme, “Silence”
Silence is, along with freedom, one of the main themes of my life. In other words, it was a big surprise for me to learn that a big festival would have silence as its theme. Silence is, for me, a great wealth, a treasure. Silence is pleasure and enchantment. It is freedom and refuge, welcome. It's a way to find new paths and to find yourself again every day. Currently, I see silence as one of the most powerful “weapons” to calm and slow down the world.
Likir, Ladakh. Photo: Joao Paulo Barbosa
How Silence translate in photography
The silence in Photography is the silence that inhabits the photographer. The silence within Photography exists from a silent gaze. Silence can be static, dynamic and full of life in a photograph. A photograph that manages to convey the presence of silence is always strong and powerful. At the same time that it calms its “reader”, it manages to reverberate feelings and emotions that need no words or comments.
Ganges, India. Photo: Joao Paulo Barbosa
How do you feel about this present, so visually dominant
I see both a good and a bad side. The bright side is that everyone can express themselves visually without hindrance. The bad side is the excess, the trivialization, the hurried vulgarization of thousands of images without content. In other words, there is a lot of wasted time and energy when people post photos without a minimum of reflection and critical awareness.
What is the role of photography in 2023
Photography in 2023 is an extremely widespread art, accepted and assimilated by most people. Much of the mystery, magic and elegance that existed in the past has been lost. The slowness in the photograph was replaced by haste. The difficulties and challenges are now different. The volume of production and accessibility of Photography has somewhat changed how people see the world and themselves. Photography ceased to be a mirror for the photographer and the spectator and became a business card, a commodity, a symbol of the contemporary ego.
Antarctic. Photo: Joao Paulo Barbosa
A message on a billboard in the center of the city
Be the change you want to see in the world. Consume less, boycott more. Enjoy the silence, simplify. Love people and Nature like there's no tomorrow.
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