It is with great satisfaction that we present this editorial for the third volume of the CONTRAST collection, a collaborative project centred around the universe of Photography, Creation, and Education, intersecting with the multidisciplinary fields of Architecture, Art, and Design1.
We aim to highlight the richness and importance of this project within the interdisciplinary context of higher education in Photography. Furthermore, we seek to reveal the potential of photography as an interpretative and expressive tool capable of engaging with diverse realities.
The CONTRAST project emerges as a response to the cultural, social, and political transformations of the early 21st century. It is presently focused on fostering a network of artistic collaboration and initiatives between higher education institutions in Portugal, where photography holds a significant presence.
One of CONTRAST’s main objectives is thus to promote critical reflection and debate on pressing contemporary issues through photography. In this sense, we are interested in drawing attention to the project’s potential to relate the European Green Deal to everyday realities and thus be aligned with the objectives of the New European Bauhaus. By examining themes such as housing, public spaces, and gender issues, CONTRAST offers an essential insight into the complexities of contemporary societies. It helps to revitalise confidence in the future among diverse audiences, especially younger ones. In this scenario, photography is not just a recording tool but an instrument for analysing, problematising and reinventing visible realities, bringing new insights into city space and life.
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Cover image: Exhibition of the Contrast project at the Portuguese Centre of Photography (2024)