Statement
In my artistic practice, I delve into the exploration of personal narratives through a diverse range of artistic mediums and interdisciplinary and experimental processes around the realm of moving images. I strive to create a fluid and evolving autofictional self that reflects my perspective on the interconnected themes of memory, identity, and the body through a contemporary lens.
Bio
Pedro Mendes is a Brazilian-born visual artist and researcher. Through cinema, video and photography as the main mediums, he develops interdisciplinary practices related to the possibilities of auto-fiction in visual narratives, encompassing experiments with repurposed moving images - such as archival footage, home videos and photographs.
In his works, Pedro explores a constant reinvention of the self through a process of autobiographical archeology, in which he rescues and ressignifies different materials to create pieces that reflect his life and experiences as a bisexual, disabled and immigrant artist. His work has been featured in exhibitions and festivals across Brazil, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Before establishing himself as a solo artist, he engaged in diverse creative pursuits, including having his own artistic studio - mainly focused in video and photography - and working as a film critic.
He holds a MA in Filmmaking from the University of Warwick/London Film School (UK, 2023) and a BA in Audiovisual Production from PUC-RS's School of Communication, Arts, and Design (Brazil, 2017), where he was the first student of his course to be awarded with a research scholarship (CAPES-CNPQ).
In addition to his artistic practice, Pedro dedicates himself to research and writing critical texts, furthering his investigation into auto-fiction and visual narratives. He also collaborates with his partner, Amanda Gatti, on joint experimental works in film and photography, including their current exploration of expanded cinema under the artistic duo PAR.
C.V
Academic Education
MA in Filmmaking - London Film School, London, UK (2023)
BA in Audiovisual Production: Film & Video - PUC-RS, Brazil (2017)
Further Education
2023 - Film LAV S8MM #19 - Madrid, Spain
2019 - Larry Wilson’s Screenwriting Workshop - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2019 - Creative Film Production, Cinemateca Capitólio - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2017 - Film Criticism, Cinemateca Capitólio - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2017 - Notions for writing Critical Essays, Cinemateca Capitólio - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Film Curation, Cinemateca Capitólio - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - African Cinema, Cinemateca Capitólio - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Povera Animation, Casa Peirô - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2015 - Formatting projects for Television, PUCRS - Porto Alegre, Brazil
Academic Research
Elements of Network Consumption:
Mapping Characteristics of Regional Audiovisual Digital Platforms
PUC~RS, Brazil (2015)
Coordination by Roberto Tietzmann
Scholarship: FAPERGS (CAPES-CNPQ)
Publications | Writing
2017-2019 - Writer | 365 Filmes
Articles and film reviews for the biggest Brazilian website on cinema
2015 - Book "Anais do Intercom Rio 2015 :
XXXVIII Congresso Brasileiro de Ciências da Comunicação"
ISSN: 2175-4683
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Selected Group Exhibitions | Screenings | Live Performances
2024 - After Myself, BFI LFS Showcase - London, UK
2023 - Vanilla Underground: REDUX, Notodo Film Festival - Madrid, Spain
2021 - Yellow Cage, Mostra Sesc Cinema - Brazil
2021 - Yellow Cage, Mostra Play The Film - Pernambuco, Brazil
2019 - Live Flesh, Goodbye Lenin - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2018 - Exhibition Jogos de Linguagem, Centro Municipal de Cultura - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Exhibition II Mostra E.F.A Porto Alegre, Brazil
Prizes | Fundings and Grants
2016 - II Mostra E.F.A - Brazil
2015 - FAPERGS (CAPES-CNPQ) Scholarship - Brazil
Management
2016-2019 - Founding Member and Manager | Estudio X
Artistic venue at Porto Alegre, Brazil
Facilitation | Curation | Mediation
2022 - Facilitator - Filmmaking Course, Wac Arts - London, UK
2021 - Facilitator - Introduction to the Cinematic Language - Porto Alegre, Brazil (virtual)
2019 - Talk - “Oscar na Cultura” - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2019 - Talk - “20th Anniversary of Central Station: Revisting a Classic” - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2018 - Talk "Scenic Photography" - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Curation - "All Women in Cinema Film Festival", Casa Peirô - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2017 - Facilitator - "Practical Screenwriting", Estúdio X - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Facilitator - "Cinema Between Wars", Casa Peirô - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2016 - Facilitator - "Practical Screenwriting", Casa Peirô - Porto Alegre, Brazil
2014 - Facilitator - "Practical Screenwriting", PUC-RS - Porto Alegre, Brazil
Languages
Portuguese, English, Spanish
Collective | Collaboration
Since 2023 - Founding member | PAR collective
Research and creation across experimental/expanded cinema and performance
2017 - Creative Collaborator | GrupoJogo de Experimentação Cênica
Audiovisual content for the theatre play "As Trevas Ridículas" (Goethe Institut - Porto Alegre, Brazil)
2016 - Founding Member and Collaborator | Casa Peirô
Artistic Venue at Porto Alegre, Brazil