Interferencia-media

Miguel Rio Branco-Self portrait of nowhere

Interview with Helena Mendes Pereira
Zet Gallery, Braga, Portugal

Interview with curator Helena Mendes Pereira, who takes a deep look into the exhibition Self-Portrait of Nowhere, a show by artist Miguel Rio Branco presented at Zet Gallery (Braga, Portugal).
The conversation explores the curatorial concepts behind the exhibition, Rio Branco’s visual and political concerns, and the narrative lens through which he addresses bodies, absence, and conflict.

ERÓTICO INESTABLE

Visit to the artists Sebastián Mejía and David Conde, creators of the project Erótico Inestable, during the Sommer Rundgang 2025 at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where they present their work in the first year at the academy, a stage in which students must be selected by a Klassenprofessor.

reframing resistance-curated film cycle for canal 180

Built around a thoughtful curatorial lens, Reframing Resistance brings together works that speak of resistance, identity, and memory. Across different media and formats, these pieces reveal resistance as an act that is not only political, but also deeply aesthetic and inherently narrative.

This project was curated for Canal 180, a television channel based in Porto, Portugal, as part of its commitment to presenting critical and contemporary audiovisual practices.

A Lien

(2022) – Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz

A Lien is a drama inspired by real events that exposes the injustice of the U.S. immigration system. The story follows a Hispanic-American family on their way to a residency hearing, which turns out to be a trap set by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). What begins as a social drama transforms into a thriller, where the promise of naturalization is used to capture families.

Liang Zhu

(2019) – Weng-San

Filmed in China, Mexico, and the United States, and using archival material, Searching for Liang Zhu explores the legend of the Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese tale about a woman named Zhu Ying-tai who disguises herself as a man in order to study. The film not only revisits a tragic myth, but also reflects on the transgression of boundaries imposed by society, exploring themes of identity, gender, and belonging.

On & Off

(2024) – Gar O’Rourke

This documentary follows the work of Letreiro Galeria in Lisbon, where a team of graphic designers rescues and preserves old neon signs from closed businesses. Through their work, these visual elements of the city are restored and immortalized, raising questions about how urbanism, gentrification, and collective memory interact in public spaces.

Stud Country

(2024) – Lina Abascal & Alexandra Kern

Stud Country documents the queer line dancing scene in Los Angeles, a little-known tradition that has existed for over 50 years within the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the success and strong dedication of its participants, the event faces the threat of losing its space due to gentrification.

Hamza

(2021) – Faramarz Gosheh

This documentary follows the story of Hamza Barka, a boxer from Biskopsgården, Gothenburg, during four crucial years of his life. Facing challenges with resilience and determination, he deals with the pressures of professional boxing while overcoming the obstacles life throws at him. The film presents a raw and poetic visual aesthetic, highlighting the struggle to redefine possibilities in an environment marked by stereotypes and limitations.

Centre of the Cyclone

(2015) – Heather Trawick

This film encapsulates the overall theme of the cycle: the journey of life and the struggle for transcendence. It reflects on resistance not only as confrontation, but also as transformation and adaptation in a world of constant change.

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