We live surrounded by photographic and audiovisual images. Amidst this visual saturation, the workshop aims to reflect on the value of images and explore new forms of creation using existing photographs.

By studying the archive as a creative tool, participants will learn various strategies for appropriating, collecting, and re-signifying images to construct new visual narratives.

During the workshop, historical and contemporary references related to archives, collage, vernacular photography, collections, and classification systems will be reviewed. The origins of modern archives will also be analyzed, starting with 16th-century Wunderkammern or cabinets of curiosities.

The course combines theory, author reviews, consultation of specialized books, and practical exercises. As a final project, each participant will develop a personal logbook or cabinet of curiosities, using images, found materials, and exercises completed during the sessions.

Key areas of work

• Collection
• Storage
• Classification
• Re-signification
• Synthesis

Final Project

Creation of a personal logbook integrating images, texts, found materials, and exercises developed in class.

Evaluation Criteria

• Originality and conceptual proposal
• Technical quality and composition
• Project development and progress
• Integration of exercises and collected materials
• Capacity for experimentation and creative risk-taking

Workshop Dynamics

The workshop consists of 5 sessions, each 3 hours long.
Each session will include:

• Review of authors and theory
• Consultation of books and reference materials
• Practical exercises and journal work

Artists and influences

Authors reviewed include:

Hans Peter Feldmann, John Stezaker, Aby Warburg, Hannah Höch, László Moholy-Nagy, Alexander Rodchenko, Joseph Cornell, Orhan Pamuk, Susan Hiller, Gerhard Richter, Tacita Dean, Fischli & Weiss, John Baldessari, Christian Boltanski, Mark Dion, Thomas Ruff, Ed Ruscha, Richard Prince, Atlas Group, Iñaki Bonillas, Jose Dávila and Sigmar Polke.

‍