Curated by Pedro Leão Neto, Visual Spaces of Change
The cultural dinamization programme here presented arises from the collaboration between
the Visual Spaces of Change (VSC) project and Bienal de Fotografia do Porto Ciclo ’19. This
collaboration is crystallized through the operationalization of a curatorial project associated
with a set of activities that combine the universes of photography and editorial in two
complementary strands: (i) The exhibition of Contemporary Photography Projects (CPP)
communicated through the projection of video and photography in various public spaces of
collective use located in Porto’s Metropolitan Area (AMP), and (ii) Showcase of alternative
publications for the dissemination of authors and works that focus particularly on
Photography whose subject is Architecture, City and Territory.
This project is structured around an annual program designed to promote the publishing
world of alternative publications known as fanzines (zines), linked to the theme of the
city, i.e. focusing on the multifaceted richness of urban, architectural and visual culture
that characterizes these urban areas and their life experiences. The aim is to schedule
events and exhibitions, and to build a pioneering physical collection on this type of
publications that strategically punctuate our territory and that are, for the most part,
often forgotten or known only by a very particular audience. The specificity of this
project is counterbalanced by the range and diversity of its thematic universe:
architecture, public space, urban culture, drawing, photography and film. The project
Cityzines will thus help to create a space for debate and critical commentary, as well as
to encourage and promote the production and creation of cityzines at a national and
international levels.
The word Cityzines, the main motto of our project, is actually the combination of two
words: city + zines. Starting with the word that arouses more curiosity, zines (fanzines),
we are immediately led to wonder what the origin of this suffix is. Zine, in the English
language, can be understood as the abbreviated word to designate magazine, which in
turn has its origin in the arabic word makhazin - the plural of makhzan, meaning
warehouse - storehouse1. Already fanzine is the result of a combination of two words -
fan and magazine or zine - and is characterized for being an alternative publication
created by fans of a particular theme or cultural phenomenon.
The creation of Cityzines collection intends to strengthen and promote the study and
dissemination of author’s editions and other publications linked to the theme of
architecture, city and territory, where the image and photography are present in a
significant way, with a special interest and focus on the multifaceted richness of urban,
architectural and visual culture that characterizes the urban agglomerations and their
experiences. This collection started with a survey more focused on the Portuguese
context, but also integrates publications from other countries with a view to
internationalization of the project.
It is important to note that there are no clear boundaries separating the fanzine from an
artist book and this from a picture-book. Fanzines were also some points of departure
for amateur publications less often known prozines. In addition, it should be noted that
in many disciplines and art such as engineering, architecture, photography, this type of
alternative publications - zines, photo books, small magazine (Little Magazine) and
other similar - were responsible for influencing important currents of thought,
movements, and professional practices of many authors and institutional groups.
It was decided to start this collection focused on Documentary and Artistic Photography
related to Architecture, City and Territory.
BIBLIOTECA ALMEIDA GARRETT
Rua de D. Manuel II, 4050-346 Porto
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