Dário Pequeno Paraíso (1991) born in Lisbon is a luso-santomean visual artist.
In 2013, he visited São Tomé e Príncipe for the first time, determined to know its origins and existential motivations, taking the first steps in the creative areas. In 2016, he begins to photograph as a way to find, discover and question the culture that surrounded him.
In the same year, he signed the photographs of the report on São Tomé and Príncipe that is part of the series "Racism in Portuguese", made by Público newspaper with the support of the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation and in 2017, he launches the book "Women of São Tomé and Príncipe" and his first photographic exhibition, Ilhando, was on display in São Tomé. Over the years between collaborations, solo and group exhibitions, Dário Pequeno Paraíso, in recent years, has focused on documenting issues of identity and post-colonial human rights.
Dário Pequeno Paraíso's work reflects his deep connection with his identity. Born and raised in Portugal, always felt a need to discover his origins and what happened in the colonial past. Son of immigrants from a former portuguese colony, he uses photography/video/poetry that intrigues the thoughts of the audience and a fearless research to understand the colonial past. "What happened? / "How can we go forward?"
After photographing for years, he felt the need to turn to video. He made several documentaries and movies reflecting on human rights and environmental issues. CNN, Tusk Conservation Awards (award given by Prince William), Lisbon Oceanarium, HELPO NGO, ACEP, OIKOS among others, seek his humanity and genuine visual references to tell stories.
In 2021/2022 he was recognized as one of the 100 most influential personalities in Lusophony by BANTUMEN magazine.
INQUIRIES
PHOTO EXHIBITIONS
2024: solo exhibition - PRETO ATLÂNTICO, Institut Français, Gabon
2024: collective exhibition - MEMORIES/LEGACIES/MUTATIONS, Macao Museum of Art
2024: solo exhibition - UM NOVO TCHILOLI, ACEP, Portugal
2024: "The (re)discovery Of Us" - Biennal Sao Tome & Principe
2024: DUVANGU: La Fabrique Créative, Gabon
2024: solo exhibition - NOSSOS CORPOS TAMBÉM SÃO PÁTRIA, Instituto Camões, São Tomé e Príncipe
2024: solo exhibition - UM NOVO TCHILOLI, Centro Cultural Português, São Tomé e Príncipe
2024: 3rd Prize Award - Somos! “Na Solidão dos Dias”, Macau
2023: collective exhibition - SAISON SANTOMMÉENNE, L'Institut Français du Gabon
2023: collective exhibition - DIAFRAGMA, Covilhã International PhotoFestival, Portugal
2023: online exhibition - BECOMING MONUMENTAL - AUTOGRAPH UK
2021: collective exhibition - AROUND PEOPLE, Artroom, Lisboa, Portugal
2021: solo exhibition - UNSA KAXI, Cais Gás, Lisboa, Portugal
2020: solo exhibition - RETRATOS DAS MULHERES DA GUINÉ-BISSAU, Casa dos Direitos, Guiné-Bissau
2019: solo exhibition - GENTES DA TERRA, Festival Sons da Terra, Fábrica da Pólvora, Portugal
2019: collective exhibition - O MAR QUE NOS UNE, Fundação Galp / World Press Photo, Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Portugal
2017: solo exhibition - ILHANDO, Galeria CACAU, São Tomé e Príncipe
DOC / CINEMA
2024: “Guela di Gigantxi” // BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY - FESTIVAL D'AGBEY, BRONZE MEDAL - 12TH FILM OLYMPIAD// selected: Accra Indie Filmfest, Pridelands Wildlife Film Fest, FESTin, New York African Film Festival, Cannes Short Film Festival, Madagascourt Film Festival
2024: “Latitude Fénix”, a film by Welket Bungué, selected: Sheffield DocFest, BlackStar Film Festival, FEST
2023: “Preservar o Paraíso – O balanço entre a caça e o endemismo”, BirdLife International
2023: "Valorização da Educação Pré-escolar em São Tomé e Príncipe", Helpo
2022: "Festa e festividades de São Tomé e Príncipe", 25th Lusophonie Festival in Macau”
2022: "Estabelecimentos de Áreas Marinhas Protegidas em STP", OIKOS
2021: "Father of the Sea Turtles", Tusk Conservation Awards
2020: "ESTAMOS AQUI", Retratos das Mulheres da Guiné-Bissau, ACEP
2019: "OMALI VIDA NÓN, Fundação Principe Trust
2017: "MINA KIÁ", a film by Katya Aragão, Curtas PALOP
BOOKS/ARTICLES & TV
2021: AQUI ESTAMOS E A PALAVRA É NOSSA, Mulheres de Cabo-Verde, Guiné-Bissau e São Tomé e Príncipe, textos de Conceição Lima, Odete Semedo e Vera Duarte
2021: CALL TO EARTH: The islanders saving bees for a sustainable future, CNN
2019: FUTUROS CRIATIVOS, ACEP
2018: "Mulheres de São Tomé e Príncipe", texto de Ana Cristina Pereira
2016: "Racismo em Português: o lado esquecido do colonialismo", texto de Joana Gorjão Henriques
DELTA CAFÉS, GALP, PAEZ, CNN, ACEP, TUSK Conservation Awards, Programa Tató, HBD, PNUD, Kosmos Energy, UNITEL STP, Fundação Principe Trust, ACEP, PÚBLICO, The Times UK, ROSELYN SILVA, CST, Diogo Vaz Sao Tome, Oikos, HELPO