Camil - João Camil de Vasconcelos 

(Lisbon, Portugal, February 28, 1995)

 

A multifaceted self-taught transdisciplinary artist whose practice is distinguished by the fusion of multiple artistic languages. With a background in theater and performing arts, he expands his creative field to scenography, sculpture, photography, illustration, graphic design, music, poetry, and cinema. His approach, both holistic and experimental, navigates different territories of contemporary art, exploring the intersection between aesthetics, sensory experience, and critical thought.

 

His work delves into the complexities of identity, traversing the dichotomies between the feminine and the masculine, the processes of memory and oblivion, and the tensions between beauty and the grotesque. By integrating performative, visual, and poetic elements, Camil develops a creative methodology that privileges immersive experience and philosophical reflection. His work is inscribed within the field of contemporary aesthetics, where the concept of transcendence intertwines with the deconstruction and reconstruction of the “self,” forming a critical analysis of the human condition.

 

Through an experimental and intertextual creative process, the artist employs a multidisciplinary approach to explore themes such as trauma, pain, healing, and resistance. His practice does not adhere to traditional mediums or formats but rather articulates different materials and languages, destabilizing the boundaries between visual, performative, and literary arts. His artistic discourse, in constant motion, reflects an investigation into the space of art as a site of confrontation, ritual, and metamorphosis.

 

In cinema, Camil applies his theatrical background and interartistic practices to develop narratives that challenge audiovisual conventions. His cinematic research proposes a hybrid language in which visual poetry and performativity converge to question the structural norms of traditional cinema. His filmic work, marked by an intense sensitivity, establishes a direct dialogue with social, cultural, and psychological issues, expanding the potential of the moving image as a vehicle for reflection and transformation.

 

João Camil de Vasconcelos’ body of work deviates from the conventional notion of authorship and style, positioning him as an artist committed to the reinvention of artistic forms. His creations are not merely an aesthetic exercise but an experience that reshapes perceptions of pain, love, and existence. Through art, he constructs a space where fragility and strength coexist, opening new possibilities for contemporary artistic expression.