"Oscar" is a tribute to Oscar Niemeyer, who passed away ten years ago. Curvilinear and sensual, his architecture, best known for the main buildings in Brasília, stood out from the straight lines characteristic of the modernist movement. All the photographs in this essay were taken in the same building, a hotel on Madeira Island, Portugal, one of Oscar’s lesser-known projects, designed in 1966. Formed only by graphic lines, almost abstract, in black and white, the images refer to the architect's creative process, who used to synthesize his ideas with few lines outlined on a sheet of paper.
José Roberto Bassul was born in Rio and lives in Brasilia. His photography turns to architecture and urban environment as an attempt "to draw thoughts, project desires and built spaces for the imagination". He has received several awards and his works has often been exhibited in festivals, galleries and museums in solo and group shows in Brazil and abroad. He has published two photobooks. His works are held in important private and public collections such as those of National Museum of Republic (Brasilia), Art Museum of Rio, Museum of Modern Art (Rio) and Museum of Photography (Fortaleza).
Awards 2024. Prêmio PIPA | PIPA Prize (indicado/nominee)
2024+2023+2020+2018+2017. Tokio Int'l Foto Awards (silver and bronze awards)
2023. Black & White Magazine (spotlight award)
2023. Transborda Award of Contemporary Art, Brasília (finalist)
2023+2021+2018+2017. Festival Internacional de Fotografia de Tiradentes (exhibition awards)
2023+2021. Pollux Awards (1st place)
2022. Festfoto Porto Alegre (exhibition award)
2022+2021+2019+2018. IPA–International Photography Awards (1st and 2nd places, and Official Selection)
2021. 10th Prix Photo AF (1st place)
2021. FotoRio, Prêmio América Latina (Latin America Award)
2021. 16th Pollux Awards (1st place)
2020+2019. Moscow Int'l Foto Awards (Book photographer of the year, gold and silver awards)
2020+2018+2017. Prix de la Photographie Paris-PX3 (gold and bronze)
2022+2021+2019. Budapest Int'l Foto Awards (2nd place, gold and silver award)
2018+2016. Festival Internacional Paraty Em Foco (exhibition awards)
2018+2017. Siena International Photo Awards (finalist)
2017. LensCulture Network Gallery (selected for online exhibition)
2017. Magnum Caravan Brasil (special mention)
2017+2016. Le Plus Grand Concours Photo du Monde, PHOTO Magazine (lauréat)
2016. Miami Street Photography Awards (finalist)
2016. Sony World Photography Awards (commended)
