Gold / 2020 / Book / Fine Art

On Barely Nothing

Architect and photographer, when photographing the architecture, my endeavour is to draw thoughts, project desires, and build spaces for the imagination. On Barely Nothing addresses silence. Silence as a haven, as a poetic expression. As an answer to the overload of sounds and images in which we are drenched. Quietude as an instance of critical reflection on the world. In a circular path, the images begin in grayish tones, move on to cooler colors, then follow on to warmer tones and finally return to gray. They evoke the comings and goings of urban wanderings during which they were captured.

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)