The break of day, by Paula Guimarães
18th Mar — 21st Apr 2023

Daybreak is the time in the morning when daylight first appears. The moment when something illuminated becomes visible. As it unravels, it reveals what was concealed by darkness.

Paula’s journey has been a visceral surrender to photography as a medium and to nature and its emotions. The break of day is a that was narrative conceived for the gallery space. It is evident throughout the exhibition that Shakespeare’s Ophelia (Hamlet) appears as a constant reference. The. character’s madness and submersion represent, both from a natural and social point of view, an analogy to the power of women and their feminine essence. In these images, a new concept of space is presented to us, a space in which the body is the one that defines it, and nature is its receptacle. Here, nature becomes a process of assimilation of the body. In Paula’s work, the bodies are more than just characters. They are symbols of purity and sensuality that represent an immeasurable strength. Each image in this series emphasizes the power of the female individual and collective, as opposed to the marginalization and threat faced by Ophelia in Hamlet.

Paula Guimarães was born in Guimarães, Portugal. After graduating in Finance from the University of New Hampshire (London), her life took a different turn when she came across photography. She currently lives and works between Lisbon and Mexico. Her practice is known for its deep connection with nature and the emotions that these natural environments can evoke in the viewer. The break of day is a solo exhibition by Paula Guimarães, with a narrative by Mafalda Guimarães.