In photographic media, I recognize the constructive nature of representation,
whereby someone represents another person with a specific goal and for a
specific audience. In this sense, António Gaio’s photographic representation
has a profound political, social, and cultural significance, because the way a
person or group is represented shows how they are seen and treated in their
daily lives, and the portrait can affect how they see and define themselves.
Photography is seen as socially defining, a characteristic that, in this exhibition,
is intended to be composed from its inception.
In this celebratory work, Da 2 à 26 – Amor, Vida e Legado (From 2 to 26 – Love,
Life, and Legacy), António Gaio is revealed through a family album, the
memories of friends, and the Cooperativa Nascente, threads of a journey that
precisely reflect a story between the photographer and the subject, whereby, in
this case, the photographer takes more of an observer’s position on the subject
rather than that of the photographic practice. Those who capture him, in a
moment of life, gain a privileged position over António Gaio because they knew
him and spoke directly with the people who lived with him all their lives. This is a
close relationship and, therefore, an inside view of António Gaio rather than an
outside, alienated, and voyeuristic view.
Olívia Da Silva
Coordination and Design
Pedro Serapicos
Design
João Paulo Gomes and Luís Ribeiro
Post-Production and Editing
Photographic Archive
António Gaio e família
Nascente – Cooperativa de Ação Cultural
Acknowledgements
António Santos, Adriana Baptista, Avelino Nunes, António Costa Valente, Carlos Luís Gaio, Capitolina Matos, Cristina Lima, Carolina Letra, Mário Rui, Fausto Neves, Fernanda Pinheiro de Morais, Laura Gaio, Henrique Praça, Henrique Neves, Isabel Cruz, Jorge Campos, Luís Kasprzykowski, Luís Costa, Lurdes Figueiredo, Mário Augusto and Matos Barbosa.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project, including those whose support, due to lack of knowledge or omission, we are unable to name here.
Born in 1962, in Porto. Has a PhD, PhD/MPhil and MA in Photography from the
School of Arts and Design at U of Derby, UK, where she studied between 1995
and 2000. She was awarded grants from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
(FCG) and the Portuguese Center of Photography (cpf) of the Ministry of
Culture. She combines her academic activity with artistic expression as a
photographer, taking part in various solo and group exhibitions and film
productions as a photographer. She is an integrated member of ID+.iMAD at the
University of Aveiro and collaborates with IFUP, CCRE/FAUP, Audiovisual
Studies at USC and eCPR/SWU-RU. He is also a member of ELIA and
President of ESMAD/IPP. She teaches at the UA’s PDCA, at
ESMAD/IPP’s Masters in Photography and Cinema, and is a member of theC.
Coordinator of the IPP Culture Centre and of the IRI Organizing Committee
since 2004.
Pedro Serapicos holds a specialist title in Design from the Polytechnic Institute of Porto
(IPP), a master’s degree in Communication Design from the School of Arts and Design of
Matosinhos (ESAD) and a degree in Communication Design / Graphic Arts from the Faculty
of Fine Arts of the University of Porto (FBAUP). He is currently director of the Design
department at the School of Media Arts and Design (ESMAD) of the Porto Polytechnic
(P.PORTO), where he teaches on the BA and MA courses in Communication Design. He
has been working as a designer since 1999 for various institutions in the commercial and
cultural context. His work has been presented at various conferences, exhibitions and
publications. He is the founder of Wonderbly (London) and BAND – Books Are Not Dead
(Porto). His main areas of research and practice are Typography; Type Design;
Communication Design; Graphic Design; Editorial Design; Identity Design and Illustration.
Produced by Hugo Mesquita and Marcello Ferreira, professors and researchers
at ESMAD/P.PORTO, in collaboration with Diogo Nóbrega, Ricardo Albano, and
Simão Almeida, alumni of ESMAD, this animated documentary is a poetic
portrayal of the resilience and legacy of António Gaio — a man who believed in
the power of culture to unite people and transform communities. Founder of the
Cineclube de Espinho, the Cooperativa Nascente, and one of the main figures
behind CINANIMA, António Gaio created places where dreams became
collective, turning cinema into a space of encounter, sharing, and friendship.
In this documentary, animation is used not only as an aesthetic tool but as a
language capable of filling the gaps left by the archive, reimagining memories,
and amplifying the resonance of his story. This tribute is also a message to new
generations — to recognize the value of collectivism and culture as a force for
transformation. An invitation to continue António Gaio’s gesture — to believe
that cinema, animation, and friendship can still bring people together, inspire
communities, and give shape to new collective dreams.
Born in 1979, in Porto, Portugal, Hugo Mesquita works in the creation of
interactive audiovisual systems using various digital media for installation and
multimedia performance, exploring the relationships between body, technology,
and new media. He holds a degree in Multimedia Communication Technologies
from ESMAE, a Master’s in Multimedia from the University of Porto, and a
specialization in Audiovisuals and Media Production. He is currently a PhD
candidate in Digital Media at the same university, focusing on creative
collaboration between artists and artificial intelligence. His work includes
projects in interactive digital scenography, video mapping for theatre and opera,
multimedia installations, and digital games.
Born in 1996, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Marcello Ferreira is a Motion Designer,
Professor at ESMAD/P.PORTO, and researcher in the field of animation and
digital art. He holds a degree in Multimedia and is currently pursuing a PhD in
Digital Media Art at the University of Algarve, where he deepens his research
on animation and emerging technologies. His practice bridges artistic creation,
teaching, and reflection on artistic and technological processes. He has
published several scientific papers and conducted international workshops. As a
Motion Designer, he has collaborated with various national and international
creative agencies, and as a Digital Artist, his work has been showcased in
Portugal, Brazil, and Spain.
Born in 2003, in Machico, Portugal, Diogo Nóbrega is a multimedia artist who
developed from an early age a passion for music and sound. Fascinated by
different instruments, he continuously explores the sonic universe in all its
forms. He holds a degree in Multimedia and is currently pursuing a Master’s in
Art and Sound Technologies. His work focuses on electronic performance and
audiovisual experimentation, blending sound and image in a practice that fuses
sound design, improvisation, and visual art.
Born in 2004, in Guimarães, Portugal, Simão Almeida is a multimedia artist and
lighting designer. He holds a degree in Multimedia and is passionate about
media arts, working as an audiovisual technician developing projects focused
on lighting. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Performing Arts at the Escola
Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo, specializing in light design. He is
also a musician and photography enthusiast. Co-founder of Arte Leiga, he is
responsible for project management and executive production.
Born in 1994, in Leça da Palmeira, Portugal, Ricardo Albano is a multimedia
creator, electrician, and researcher in the field of media arts. He holds a degree
in Multimedia and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Interactive Digital Media at
the Escola Superior de Media Artes e Design. He develops projects that explore
interactivity, data visualization, visual expression, and mixed reality
technologies. His experience as both a soldier and an electrician influences his
perception of the world, inspiring a practical curiosity that translates energy into
new forms of visual representation. He is co-founder of Arte Leiga, a platform
dedicated to the dissemination and collaborative creation of Media Art, where
he serves as creative producer and project identity lead.
2026. CINANIMA 24. All rights reserved
Made with passion ❤ by CIRCLETEC
