"Empty Coimbra" - A Photography Project

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PHOTOGRAPHY | DUANE MICHALS APPROPRIATION

Duane Michals "Empty New York" appropriation project

For the Photography and Composition course, and based on the idea that the appropriation methodology marks the paradigm of contemporary creation, in line with the appropriation of knowledge as the foundation for any learning, this project was proposed.
The project aimed to encourage students to select and adopt one or two project ideas from authors covered in the program, and then develop a project that showcases their ability to interpret the chosen author’s aesthetic and conceptual universe.

The “Empty Coimbra” series was an appropriation of Duane Michals’ project “Empty New York.” This series by the photographer caught my attention because it is contradictory. New York is a bustling city with a lot of movement, and I found it fascinating to portray it in a way that appears to be a ghost town.

Coimbra, the city where I live, has a very intense academic life and is often depicted with students, annual parties, and student residences. So, I thought it would be interesting to appropriate “Empty New York,” even though it was a different city with a different “spirit.”

To convey the contrast of the empty streets of New York, I portrayed empty rooms, halls, libraries of student residences, bus stops without anyone, lonely park benches, empty classrooms, and cafeterias with solitary chairs.

In reference to Duane Michals’ working style, I created two series within this project. One of them, “Inside,” features photos taken inside student residences, establishments, and colleges, while the other, “Outside,” focuses on external areas that are usually well-visited, such as bus stops, public squares, and terraces.