The work of Rafael G. Antunes (Lisbon, 1977) proposes to reflect and explore, with the use of photographic and videographic images, the transient tensions and dynamics in the concepts of identity, collective and individual memory, and Cultural Heritage (whether material or immaterial) when faced with the compression of geographic space – through the shortening of the notion of time – that globalization and technological progress imposed on Humanity. Based on a metaphorical approach, his images are positioned in counterpoint to current cultural perceptions, hostages to symbolic actions generated, shared and consumed in an increasingly global way.

In 2019, and after a 21-year journey of photography for the Portuguese Press as a free-lancer, he begins to think about photography – and specifically portraits – in a more philosophical and conceptual way. This new approach to photographic image leads him to join, in 2019/20, the National Society of Fine Arts, in Lisbon, where he attends courses in Aesthetics, and History of Contemporary Art I. In 2020/21, at the same institution , attends courses in Visual Culture and Image Theory, and History of Contemporary Art II.

Graduated in Photography at IADE (Faculty of Design, Technology and Communication) in 1999, he studied Anthropology in 2003/04 and 2005/06 at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Over the last 16 years, he has attended numerous courses at Cenjor (Professional School for Journalists).

Awards

– 2022 – Vila Franca de Xira Biennale – “Tauromaquia” Award

– 2021 – Honorable Mention – Tokyo International Photo Awards

– 2021 – Shortlisted – 7th Fine Art Photography Awards

– 2020 – Honorable Mention Editor´s Pick – Life Framer “Humans of the World” Awards

– 2020 – Honorable Mention – International Photography Awards

– 2020 – Shortlisted – Siena Creative Photo Awards

– 2020 – Shortlisted – 6th Fine Art Photography Awards

Solo exhibitions

– 2022 – Caja Rural del Sur Foundation, Sevilla

– 2022 – Casa do Alentejo, Lisbon

– 2021 – Municipal Museum of Ferreira do Alentejo

– 2020 – Culture House Jaime Lobo e Silva, Ericeira

Collective exhibitions

– 2022 – Vila Franca de Xira Biennale

– 2021 – National Palace of Mafra – Exhibition commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the registration of the monument on the UNESCO World Heritage List