How to reinvent something? In a healthy mind, the creation of “new” memories is something constant, either inspired by raw material or by inevitable re-interpretations of said material. When remembering something, we are putting the pieces of the puzzle back together with the aim of seeing the original image again. However, these replays and “ revolving doors” that we re-open consciously or unconsciously, modify the original, which thus undergoes alterations, minding the current state of mind of the one who remembers. The one in question, can choose to eliminate our add certain details, before unknown, chasing the meaning of the experience. As an object, the photography ends up to be an experience on pause. The translating judge of the facts. A reflection, either it may be in the mirror or in the water (for example), doesn’t show us the intended image. Therefore, I was inspired to rethink a handful of memories taking advantage of this factual technique, staging passed memories with a present perspective exploring the bridge between the autobiographical and the auto-topographical.
The accumulation of lived years can translate into several layers of experiences, different memory albums. Drop by drop you can fill an ocean, one where several ongoing rivers flow. The water drop is lasting, however throughout its path it ends up being classified differently. The repetition of the experience gives birth to a familiar one, although never a twin. One never wears the same article of clothing the same way twice.
While staging a small selection of her memory archive, Ana Margarida Ferreira, was careful to always preserve something familiar. Starting with the chosen locating, parish of Côta, where her family is from, following the traditional work vestments – black suit, scarf and/or straw hat, to choice of the models – her two younger siblings (also art students) Nuno Miguel Fareleira and Ana Marta Fareleira. Not forgetting the exhibition space, the garage of her maternal grandparents.
The presentation of “Windows Erst” consisted in a visual installation with several light boxes/windows portraying the staging of memory, accompanied by a soundart piece.
Previously the artist has also explored the opening of thought windows, with this project the windows are already open being that what’s left is the modification or interpretation of the given information.
Ana Margarida Ferreira (b.1998 – Viseu, Portugal) is a young Plastic Artist with family roots on the village of Nogueira de Côta, municipality of Viseu. With a degree in Plastic Arts – Painting Branch by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, nowadays she’s attending the Master in Contemporary Artist Creation, in the context of which she’s doing an internship with Binaural – Associação Cultural de Nodar. With a small portfolio of exhibitions held outside and inside of the academic environment, Ana Margarida Ferreira aims to keep exploring various techniques and materials with a particular focus on themes such as memory, identity issues and socio-cultural issues.