DIGITAL MEDIA-ART PROJECT: Um Diálogo com a Paisagem Duriense

Through a dialogue between cultural heritage and media-art, the project “Um Diálogo com a Paisagem Duriense” aims to explore the natural and cultural landscape of the Douro River, materialising its semiotic discourses in artistic artefacts.

The idea came from the density of meaning in landscape concept, from the various objects that designate. This meaning, associated with these objects, define the different aspects of a landscape. However, is a complex task to reach them, with a game of distancing and approach. The meaning of landscape is to be found between the lines, that boost and build the concept.

This project involves several travels to the field, by researchers and artists involved, to collect and catalogue visual, audio and linguistic materials among local communities. These materials will be analysed, leading to different perceptive and conceptual experiences related to the Douro River and its landscape.

After the artistic output resulting from the exploration of the collected materials, a digital platform will be created, where these materials and the produced artefacts will be released and available in open access.

Lead researcher

Tiago Cruz has a PhD in Digital Media-Art (UAb-UAlg), and has been developing artistic installations around the landscape theme. Beyond teaching, Tiago collaborates in research projects with the Research Center for Arts and Communication (CIAC – UAlg/UAb) and is communication designer and illustrator.

Other researchers

Fernando Faria Paulino has earned a PhD in Anthropology (specializing in Visual Anthropology). He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University Institute of Maia (ISMAI), in the Department of Communication Sciences and Information Technology, an integrated researcher at CITEI Research Centre in Technologies and Intermedia Studies, and a lead researcher at CIAC Research Center for Arts and Communication / University of Algarve.

Main aim

To reflect on cultural heritage (material and non-material), associated to the Douro’s landscape, through artistic production in media-art context.

Outputs

Media-art artefacts produced as a result of the crossover between heritage and media-art.