Ligia Sato: Walking Abstractions: Online exhibiton of recent works
Using geometric and abstract photography, I capture the details of urban and architectural landscapes
About the Artist, Ligia Sato, I am a São Paulo-born artist interested in investigating the urban environment through lens-based media and performance work. Growing up in a densely packed city, with a heavily trafficked avenue as my front yard, made it clear to me from a very young age that one’s immediate environment has a profound impact on both physical and mental well-being.
The core motivation behind my practice is the belief that we are not separate from the environment we inhabit – we are one whole with space. Underneath the imagery of my work is the deep desire for people to return to observing and connecting to their surroundings. It is a desire to remember what we once knew: that there is a connection, that there is a mutual influence between place and human existence. In an urban environment, this disconnection is further compromised. Architecture and urban-built structures promote order and control of bodies, imposing a disconnection, an alienation in relation to the place we inhabit.
Using geometric and abstract photography, I capture the details of urban and architectural landscapes as a way to show observations that would only be possible if walking in an attentive manner, inviting viewers to observe their daily commute with greater attentiveness. In addition, I use performances, videos, and photographs to respond to structures that are not pedestrian-friendly. These works reflect on the pedestrian’s experience in relation to urban structures that either exclude or fail to accommodate them. Together, my work examines the relationship between the body and the urban environment.