João (Lisbon, 1989) is an artist and researcher currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. Attended Fine-arts at Lisbon’s Academy of Fine Arts from 2008 to 2010, eventually moving to Caldas da Rainha, having graduated from his BA in Industrial Design in 2013 from ESAD. In 2014 moves to London to pursue an MA in Industrial Design at Central Saint Martins, UAL which he graduated in 2016.
His practice often revolves around a site, both physical and conceptual; From this, he’s particularly interested in deconstructing socio-cultural, political and technological agents, towards a post-anthropocentric perspective of place, time, and history. This practice is deeply rooted on a quasi-archeological investigation, with recurring site visits, documentations and consultation of archive materials, weaving sensorial narratives, often ambiguous and fragmented.
Born in Lisbon, 1989.
Lives and works in
Education
2014-2016
MA Industrial Design
Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London — UK
2010-2013
BA Industrial Design
School of Arts and Design, Caldas da Rainha — PT
2008-2010
BA Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts, Lisbon University — PT
Selected Exhibitions
2023
Midnight Sun at Mono; Lisbon, PT
Paraísos Artificiais; With Beatriz Medori and Curated by Sofia Marçal; National Museum of Science & Natural History, Lisboa, PT
Estudo do Meio ; Curated by Purga, Carpintarias de S. Lázaro, Lisbon, PT
2022
CODA — With Francisca Aires Mateus at Buraco. Lisboa, PT
Uncertain Strata, EGEU, Lisboa, PT
A4: OASIS — Open Studio, Arquipélago Art Center Curated by Carine Dolek & Virgílio Ferreira, Ribeira Grande, Açores, PT
2021
O sol seguido do mais velho, da ovelha e de the origin (on and on), conduzidos por klecks klecks, Curated by Pedro Huet — Sismógrafo, Casa das Artes do Porto, Porto, PT
Dip me in the river, drop me in the water!, Curated by Carolina Trigueiros, Galeria Pedro Cera, Lisboa, PT
Paadman Video Event, Curated by Foad Alijani, Sharif Gallery, Tehran, IR
Film Screenings
2022
Triste Para Sempre 22, Lisboa PT
Shortcutz Lisboa, Lisboa PT
Videotek Short Film Festival, Berlin, DE
2021
Drama in Athens — Greek Film Archive, Athens, GR
Paadman Video Event, Tehran, IR
Lisbon Cine Fest, Lisbon, PT
Drama Short Film Festival, Drama, GR
Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest, Edinburgh, SC
FEST, Espinho, PT
Flat Earth Film Festival, Seyðisfjörður, IS
Prague Film Awards, Prague, CZ
Psarokokalo International Short Film Festival, Athens, GR
Triste Para Sempre 21, Lisboa, PT
Entre Olhares (Extensão), Barreiro, PT
BARCIFF, Barcelona, ES
London Eco Film Festival, London, UK
Oslo Film Festival, Oslo, NO
2020
Entre Olhares, Barreiro, PT
Awards & Nominations
2022
Prague Film Awards, Prague, CZ
2021
Green & Short Winner — Drama Short Film Fest, Drama, GR
Best National Short — Triste para Sempre, Lisboa, PT
Experimental Short Finalist — Lisbon Cine Fest, Lisbon, PT
Quarter Finalist — London Eco Film Festival, London, UK
Experimental Short Finalist— Prague Film Awards, Prague, CH
Experimental Short Finalist— Oslo Film Festival, Oslo, NO
2017
iF Public Value Award 2017 Nominee— International Forum Design, Hannover, DE
2015
Original Portuguese Projects 2015 Finalist, Serralves, Porto, PT
2014
Original Portuguese Projects 2014 Finalist, Serralves, Porto, PT
Collections
Private Collections — PT
Residencies
2022
A4 : OASIS,Curated by CiCLO (PT) + FetArt (FR), Açores, PT
2015
Wicked Products, Curated by R-Urban and Public Works, Hackney Wick, London, UK
Speaker
2022
A4 : OASIS, Rencontre d’ Arles at Foundation Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, FR
2016
Darefest, Antwerp, BL
Brain Waves: Creative Forensics, London Design Festival, UK
Professional Experience
2020 — 2023
Freelancer, Lisbon, PT
Art Handler
Artist Assistant (Various Roles)
Designer (Art related projects including Posters ; Websites ; Etc.)
Photographer and Video Documentation
2018—2019
Canon Europa N.V., London UK
2017
World Press Photo, Amsterdam/London, NL/UK
Blubel, London, UK
2016
KRAM/WEISSHAAR, Munich, DE
Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability Lab, London, UK
Wellcome Collection, London, UK
2015
Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability Lab, London, UK
Camden Council — Designer-Researcher Consultant, London, UK