Ceci n'est pas un portrait

Ceci n'est pas un portrait is a possible comprehensive depiction of the production of a new generation of Portuguese practices. The publication brings together a collection of more than 300 photographs by Francisco Ascensão illustrating about 70 recent projects by young  architecture offices in Portugal. 

In the book, the images are put together without specific order to give rise to the portrait of an emerging generation of architects. The choice of photography reveals a variety of projects that together form a mental collage of architectures in which materiality, color and geometry express the sensibilities and singularities of forty different offices.

The collectiveness of the work is not intended to be generic, on the contrary, it pays particular attention to the architectural details, which have a status on their own. Where colour is present in the majority of the photos, these details are highlighted and dynamise the collection thanks to the pronounced use of flash, off-axis framing and black-and-white treatment. 

Next to these pictures, various text contributions from different backgrounds accompany these images to shine light and offer a reading of that emerging scene of architects. 

On November 22, at 7:00 pm, the book will be presented at et al. The presentation of the book will be followed by a discussion addressing the question of generation in presence of Maarten Delbeke (ETHZ) as well as Inge Vinck (AJDVIV) and the editors of the book Ana Luísa Soares, Filipe Magalhães (fala), João Paupério and Maria Rebelo (Atelier local).