Portuguese artist Diogo Duarte defines himself as an image maker. “Photography is the vehicle through which I express and escape from my myself.”
In “Unconscious Commands and Judgements of our Century“, a self-portrait project, Diogo ‘performs’ different aspects of his personality in front of the camera, with the intention to create an inner dialogue of self-acceptance.
In the staged photographs, every single character plays a role, talking to each other, in a constant swing between freedom of expression and repression. Aspects of Diogo’s personality that were once hidden away, are amplified and exaggerated in front of a surreal backdrop.
“Most of my ideas arise naturally in the form of intrusive images, which I then add to or take away from during the development stage.
Whilst working in mental health services, I’ve become fascinated with how non acceptance of oneself and one’s surroundings causes so much unhappiness. I bring into my practice as an artist all the emotions, thoughts and stories we’d rather avoid and that, if acquainted with, can have a fascinating transformative effect.
I have a strong attraction to the hidden side of things – or ‘shadows’ – latent in every single thing that surrounds us and often spend most of my time investigating their origins and close relationship with Culture – trying to answer the child like question of why do ‘shadows’ exist. And more often than not, poking fun at it.”
Images courtesy of Diogo Duarte
Discover: www.diogo-duarte.com
