EXHIBITION HERBARIUM

Galeria Hiato – Juiz de Fora MG – 2009
IBRIT – Milano – Itália – 2001
Natal Shopping – Natal – 2001
Espaço Cultural Idea Haus – Natal – 1997
Espaço Cultural 508 – Brasília – 1996
Li Photogallery – São Paulo – 1996

Herbarium is a photographic series that explores the relationship between body and nature through compositions in which vegetal elements — leaves, branches, and flowers — merge with the human figure. Developed in sepia tones and treated to evoke historical photographic processes, the series creates images of strong symbolic resonance, presenting the body as an organic territory — fragile yet ritualized.
Situated between botany and memory, Herbarium proposes a reflection on identity, transience, and belonging, transforming the photographic gesture into a poetic inventory of body and nature.
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Ricardo Junqueira has been, throughout his artistic life, a Craftsman photographer. Craft as absolute knowledge and control of the techniques described by the History of Photography. It is not possible to think about its production without thinking about the need for experimentation.
In this exhibition, gathering around 20 photographs, Ricardo starts from the traditional studio, as a setting, for the images, and follows a path of challenges. The negative, the starting point, suffers numerous interferences in the expansion process, reaching unique results. Ricardo does not explore the technique of photography as a language that multiplies situations, but as a vehicle for exploring countless possibilities. Photography for him is a means and not an end.
Its rigor is much more focused on technique than on the essence and control of the image. Sensitizing the paper, specially produced for it, with strokes of emulsion allows the image to adapt in a casual way. This casualness, often perceived from small spots or distortions, makes the viewer's gaze more interested. Process and product meet by chance.
For this exhibition, Ricardo dedicated himself to the aesthetic reading of the naked body. Models strategically placed in front of constant lighting and ambiance, interact with leaves of vegetation, almost reaching a perfect fusion. Sometimes the moment where the human outline ends and the universe of leaves begins is hardly noticeable.
Ricardo Junqueira will launch his “Artist's Book” at the exhibition. Like the exhibition, the book is an author's work that will bring together 20 photographs. The print run will be 12 unique copies that will be for sale.

Ana Helena Curti
Art 3 / São Paulo Biennial Foundation