Mário Pires
[ BIO ]
Born in 1960 in Lisbon. Works and lives in Lisbon.
Started capturing light in 1984
Believes that rust never sleeps, and that we should keep adapting, learning and evolving.
Believes in the saving power of beauty.
Believes that goddesses, muses and nymphs exist to guide the artist in finding a way out of the chaos of his internal labyrinth.
Believes that artists should not be defined by the tools they use, but by their work and actions.
Believes the artist’s creative fire is only kept alive when they immerse fearlessly into their unconscious.
Believes that artists never retire, unless it is for a short while to a house in the woods.
By first light he drinks from the cup of creation and becomes an alchemist.
Works in photography, both digital and analog, video, calligraphy and music.
[ Audiovisual Work ]
1991-2000 - Official Photographer for Adrenalina Organizações Desportivas.
2003-2004 – Co-Founder of photo collective BZK Group.
2005-Present – Official Photographer for Festival Músicas do Mundo (Sines).
2010-2016 – Official Photographer for Ignite Portugal.
2011 – Official Photographer for TEDxPorto.
2012-2014 – Photographer for Teatro Rápido.
2012-2016 – Member of the photo collective The Portfolio Project.
2014-2015 – Co-Founder of the art group ColabArt.
2014-2018 - Author on the site Musicfest.pt
2022-Present - Associated author Atelier Pop-Up
2023 - Official Photographer for TEDx Lisbon
[ Publications ]
1988 – Anuário português de Fotografia 1988 (Foto Jornal, Lisbon).
1989 – 1ª Bienal de Fotografia de Vila Franca de Xira exhibition catalog (Câmera Municipal de Vila Franca de Xira, Vila Franca de Xira).
1994 – “Trans / Casa de Passagem” exhibition catalog (Self Published, Lisbon) [Catalog design by author].
2001 – “Fotografia em português – foto@pt” (Gótica, Lisbon) [Author was part of the organizing team and technical consultor].
2005 – “28MM:offline” (28MM.org, Ravenstein).
2006 – “Arte na Planície” exhibition catalog (Associação Cultural Arte na Planície, Montemor o Novo).
2020 – “sem limites” exhibition catalog (Associação SOS Arte Pt, Maia).
2021 – “MONOMANIA LOVE in a Pandemic” (ERIN CROSS Publication, Tokyo).
2022 “FMM 2019” (Self Published, Lisboa)
2023 “Bleak City” (Self Published, Lisboa)
2023 “Anarchyº1” (ephemere, Tokyo)
2024 “Bleak City” (ephemere, Tokyo)
[ Solo Exhibitions ]
1991 – “Cacilheiros”, Fotogaleria 12A, Lisbon.
2001 – “Olhares”, Laboratório Digital Carlos Vilas, Lisbon.
2010 – “7 Visões no Chiado”, LiberOffice, Lisbon.
2011 – “7 visões no Chiado”, ESEC, Coimbra.
2011 – “7 visões no Chiado”, Casa da Esquina, Coimbra.
2013 – “Retratos Rápidos”, Teatro Rápido, Lisbon.
2017 – “Book Loving Girls” (Travelling Exhibition), FNAC Gallery, Cascais.
2017 – “Festival de Músicas do Mundo de Sines – 20 anos”, Cinema São Jorge, Lisbon.
2018 – “Book Loving Girls”, Biblioteca Municipal, Torres Vedras.
2022 “Flora Arcana” Lapso Galeria, Setúbal
2022 “Flora Arcana” Galeria N118, Alpiarça
2023 “Flora Arcana” Auditório Augusto Cabrita, Barreiro
2024 “Bleak City” ephemere gallery, Tokyo
2024 “Book Loving Girls” Centro de Artes, Sines
2025 “Bleak City” Atelier Mestres 1A, Lisboa
2025 “Book Loving Girls” Festival Folio, Óbidos
[ Colaborative ]
1989 – 1ª Bienal de Fotografia, Vila Franca de Xira.
1994 – “Trans / Casa de Passagem”, Covilhã.
2001 – Foto.pt, Almada.
2001 – Foto.pt, Beja.
2003 – “Covers” – BZK Group, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Lisbon.
2005 – “World Music”, Capela da Misericórdia, Sines.
2011 – “Portfolio Project”, Fábrica Braço de Prata, Lisboa.
2012 – “Casa” – Portfolio Project, Casa da Esquina, Coimbra.
2020 – “Sem limites” – SOS Artes Pt, Online exhibit.
2023 “Amostra 23” - Espaço Nowhere, Lisboa
[ Videography ]
1994 – “Trans / Casa de Passagem” 20’ (S-VHS).
2013 – “Curtas de Teatro: um ano de Teatro Rápido em Lisboa” (with Joana Rita Sousa) 45’ (DVD).
2020 – “Into the woods” 06’,46” (YouTube).
[ Interviews ]
2020 – S2E5 - Art SideTalk (YouTube)
2023 - “Visualizing Urban Despair” - ephemera, Tokyo