The project “22 photos, 22 photographers” was created by the photographer Júlio Aires in 2024, in the city of Porto. Aires then invited 21 national and international photographers, whose work he followed on social media, to join him in a collective exhibition, aiming to fill the gap he felt regarding the presentation of independent photography in a more accessible format for everyone who enjoys this art.
The initiative, enthusiastically embraced by the artists, was later repeated with the
organization of two more exhibitions in the city of Porto and one in Lisbon.
The name "22" was adopted for the first exhibition when Júlio realized that the available
wall space could only accommodate 22 photographs, one for each of his participants,
and it was then humorously adopted as the brand for these events.
The exhibitions do not impose a mandatory theme on the photographers, allowing each one to freely choose the photo that best represents them. The goal is to bring together amateur and professional photographers in an informal space, promoting relationships that go beyond virtual connections, fostering closeness and the sharing of ideas. It is also hoped that these encounters will contribute to the dissemination of photographic culture in Portugal and raise awareness among the general public about its importance throughout history.
The exhibition model is designed to be simple and easy to set up in different spaces, considering environmental issues by attempting, whenever possible, to reuse the displayed works and their respective supports.
