An eye on a disappearing world

The question is obvious – is this really «Arqueologia Popular Algarvia» (Popular Archeology of the Algarve)? But before Raúl Morgado tries to answer, the 24 photographs chosen for this exhibition speak for themselves. It could be an ancient window in a little Algarvian side street, a rusty rotor blade, or the tangled mess of nets from a fishing trawler in Olhão. It could be the vestige of an old sardine canning factory, a pigeon seen on the A22 motorway, or a water deposit eaten away by time. “It’s all a bit of what’s disappearing here – things that don’t really exist anywhere else and are therefore condemned to extinction,” Morgado explains. “I like very much to walk around, seeking out colours, textures, localities – anything that catches my eye. More than anything, I’m looking for art in the raw. There’s so much, all around us – but so often we don’t even notice it”. He’s already visited all the dams in the region – and doesn’t tire of seeking out forgotten, different places to titivate his camera. More often than not, he goes alone – looking not only for images, but personal experiences, shying away more and more from the obvious, and visually perfect.

Curiously, his subjects are extraordinary simple. What happens is that reality so often mirrors abstract painting. Is it intentional? To a certain extent, the photographer answers, it is. Although today a ‘second plan’, Morgado has dedicated himself in the past to painting – passing through various schools of art and design in Oporto.

Perhaps the most radical step in his career came in 2005. He left Oporto, packed his bags, and headed for the Algarve. It was a story of sudden, intense love, which he recorded in a series that he called «Algarve por uma linha». Each photo taken between March 2005 and March 2009 showed, in chronological form, his relationship with the human aspects and landscapes of the south. It’s an exhibition that showed recently at Quarteira’s Galeria das Portas do Mar – and led to a video on «YouTube». Already looking ahead to his next exhibition, Morgado continues to explore “in the old fashioned way”, using a set of latter-day lenses inherited from his father.

Galeria Studio 21 is the oldest art gallery in Loulé – having been in business for more than 28 years. It opened in a revamped style on 14th August last – thanks to the efforts of artist Lis Silva, 28, who developed her work in contemporary glass, painting and alternative jewellery. It’s in the centre, next to the castle (Torre da Vela), in Rua Martim Moniz, nº 21. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm, and on Saturdays from 11am to 3pm.

«Fotofesta - 1º Festival de Fotografia do Algarve»

Founded in March 2008 – with the objective of promoting photographic art throughout the Algarve, ALFA (standing for «Associação de Fotógrafos Amadores do Algarve») has around 200 members. It regularly holds training events, workshops, competitions and exhibitions – as well as other opportunities for amateur photographers to share experiences and generally make contact with each other. According to ALFA’s João Eduardo Pinto, «Fotofesta – 1º Festival de Fotografia do Algarve» runs until the end of October and includes a series of 27 activities, all of which are published on the assciation’s website, and blog fotofestaalfa.blogspot.com/ Participation is up to the whole community.