FERNANDA ZOTOVICI
Every day when I was a kid, my father woke me up playing a guitar. My mom used to say that there is no better way to know if you like something other than trying. My two brothers, much older than me, always had enough experiences and advice to “save” me in any situation. So a combination of an artist father, a brave and exploring mother, and two very caring brothers made me look at life in a very creative and adventurous way, with no fears or filters to express myself.
When I was at school, what I really liked were extracurricular classes: painting, drama, guitar, piano, sculpture, dance… Since I was little I always had the feeling that people understood me better if I made a drawing than if I wrote a few words. Or through a song or a theater sketch rather than an essay.
I grew up in São Bernardo do Campo, a city in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. And as time went by, the curiosity to see the world, beyond the provincial city in which I lived, arose. My children's eyes looked at big cities in history and geography books, Paris, London, New York, and I thought how much I would like to know these places, cultures, languages so different from mine!
I went to college in the Architecture and Urbanism School and in the first semester I went on a short professional exchange in the state of Vermont, USA (and it was the first time I've seen snow in my life!). I returned to Brazil after 4 months, with the certainty that I wanted to continue this journey of discovery. So, 3 years later I joined the university at Syracuse University in USA, where I lived for 2 years.
During my professional career, I always tried to involve art in all the projects I did. Probably because I lived a “mixed life” between graphic arts, drama and architecture. It was inevitable that one would merge into the other. At vapor 324, the architecture office where I worked for a few years, we developed not only architecture projects, but also urban installations, audiovisual installations, scenography and graphic design. This multiple experience of connected visual areas helped me to realize even more what was the path of my research and professional development.
After college it was time to cross the ocean and arrive in Europe! I've never been here before! In 2018, I moved to Portugal to do a master's degree in “Art and Design for Public Space” at the University of Porto. My research seeks to understand the occupancy of public space, and synthesizes the studies of architecture and urbanism through artistic practice, more specific performance art. In my Master's, I had the pleasure of meeting many people who joined and added cultural and professional diversity, including Claire, who quickly became an academic partner and great friend.
When setting up tialt Claire and Dougie invited me to think and create alternatives with them, by using my favorite and stronger communication tool: the visual language. This delightful experience has given us the opportunity not only to do something we truly believe in, but also to learn from each other's potential and personal practices. After all, that's what we want: to have a close, respectful and dedicated look at each other. A critical look, but with affection and love.