Inês d’Orey
Im Rahmen unseres Portugal Photography Specials haben wir mit der Fotografin Inês d’Orey über ihre Arbeit gesprochen. In ihren Serien »sous le sable«, »Tenho fome« und »limbo« geht sie im Besonderen auf die Lage der Menschen in Portugal ein. Ihre Bilder zeigen auf subtile Weise wie die Gesellschaft durch politische und wirtschaftliche Faktoren beeinflusst wird. Auch im Slanted Magazin #27 – Portugal hat sie sich im Interviewformat 10 × 10 zu Wort gemeldet.
Aus der Serie »limbo« – 2012
Many of your projects are photographed in square format and seem to have a strong filter or way of post-production, most appear to have patina. How do you photograph (analogue or digital) and how do you post produce them? And why in such a special way?
I’ve always been interested in exploring the ambiguous quality of photography. It’s subjectivity. And one of the ways to do it is to create different levels of possible meaning, by messing with the photograph. By adding text, sound, textures or graphic elements. The square format allows me to step away a little bit more from the document / reality nature of photography. Nowadays, I only photograph digital, as post-production is an important part of the creation of my images. It actually lets me reach my goals in a much better, faster and cheaper fashion.
Aus der Serie »limbo« – 2012
In “sous le sable” and “limbo” you portrait the youth of today. These pictures seem to “fade” behind a curtain of smoke or “wipe out” – what is the deeper meaning you want to bring across?
Limbo (2012) is a series of portraits of protesters who participated in the demonstration of the 12th of March of 2011. Inspired by a stencil spread throughout the city of Porto that said “we continue for the fog to clear,” this series proposes a reflexion on a revolted and outraged generation who is, at the same time, paralized in a state of suspension and uncertainty. “Sous le sable” (“Under the sand”), 2014, was made for the Dear Sir Agency group exhibition We Are All Made of Scars, part of the “Encontros da Imagem” photo festival, under the theme Hope and Faith. The installation is composed of 4 light boxes and explores the asphyxia and struggle that Youth lives in the present time.
Aus der Serie »limbo« – 2012
In “tenho fome” (What does it mean, by the way?) it is “youth” again, and the aspect of ambiguous desires – how does that come together in an commercial assignment? What was the shop’s purpose to display your work? How did you get the brief?
“Troca-se por Arte” (“Exchange for Art” in Portuguese) is a non-profit event with the purpose of bringing some dynamics to traditional commerce in the city of Porto and draw people’s attention to art, architecture and to the idea of a lively town. During three days, the shop windows become an open gallery and talented artists are moved from their regular art circuit. “Tenho fome” (“I’m hungry, in Portuguese”), 2011, was a commission to integrate the project with an installation in a grocery store. My installation was about the frequently contradictory ambiguous discourse and behavior of youth today. It consisted in two light boxes with portraits of the same girl. In both images you can read quotes I took from different media at the time with contradictory statements about the political situation in Portugal.
Aus der Serie »sous le sable« – 2014
You are represented by Dear Sir Agency – is this how you get most of your commercial work? Do you differentiate between commercial and personal work? How far does the degree of compromise go in your commercial work?
Actually, most of my commercial work comes from clients seeing my personal work, which is what I only show in my website. For my commercial work, I have to use a different language. If I photograph a theatre play or a hotel room, I can’t mess with the images, for natural reasons. There’s a specific message and I have to deliver it.
Aus der Serie »sous le sable« – 2014
You live and work in Porto, you have studied in London; how did that change your point of view onto your home society back in Porto?
London was great to learn and be exposed to so much art and creativity. So much is going on there all the time. But Porto was always a city with many artists and the underground scene is fabulous. We live in a global world today and Porto offers the quality of live of a smaller city, but with the possibility of working in the creative world as well.
Aus der Serie »sous le sable« – 2014
Ausstellung »sous le sable« – 2014
Aus der Serie »Tenho fome« – 2011
Aus der Serie »Tenho fome« – 2011
Aus der Serie »Tenho fome« – 2011
Aus der Serie »Tenho fome« – 2011
Die 1977 in Porto geborene Inês d’Orey arbeitet als freischaffende Fotografin für private Kunden, öffentlichen Institutionen und an freien Projekten. Des öfteren werden ihre Fotografien veröffentlicht und im Ausland und in Portugal ausgestellt. Sie hat einen Abschluss vom London College of Printing und 2007 gewann sie den Fnac New Talent prize in Fotografie. Sie wird durch die Presença Gallerie in Porto vertreten.
