Brief CV
João Miguel Barros was born in 1958, in Lisbon, Portugal. He is a Lawyer by profession, in Lisbon and Macau.
He was co-director of the SEMA culture and visual arts magazine published in Lisbon between 1979 and 1982 (www.revistasema.pt).
In 2017, he began to exhibit his photography work, with individual exhibitions at “Creative Macau – Center for Creative Industries”, Macao (February 2017), at “Museu Coleção Berardo”, Belem Cultural Centre, Lisbon, Portugal (from February to August 2018), at “Macau Contemporary Art Center – Navy Yard nº 1”, Macao (from April to June 2019), at Albergue SCM, Macao (July 2019), at Fundação Rui Cunha, Macao (May 2020) and at Faculty of Law of the Lisbon University (2023) (https://shorturl.at/npsY3)
He has also participated in several group exhibitions.
He was selected in 2021 to represent Macao at the Macao International Art Biennial with the work “Allegory of Globalization”.
As an artist, João Miguel Barros has received several distinctions in international photo competitions.
He published three photobooks: “Between Gaze and Hallucination” (self-published) in 2017, “Photo-Scripts – 14 short stories” (published by Museu Coleção Berardo) in 2018, “Photo-Scripts 12 short stories (published by The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macau S.A.R. Government).
At beginning of 2020, he started publishing the magazine “Zine Photo” (www.zine.photo), with his own work. This project ended with the publication in January 2023 of #12, closing a cycle previously designed to last twelve issues.
In December 2020, Photo London Academy published one edition of its Magazine (nº 32), exclusively dedicated to his work and projects (https://online.flippingbook.com/view/416129/).
João Miguel Barros is also a freelance curator in contemporary photography, having promoted photography exhibitions of international artists in Portugal.
Was selected, as curator, together with the artists Ung Vai Meng and Chan Hin Io, among 24 groups of candidates, to represent Macau in the “59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia” (https://www.gov.mo/pt/noticias/563042/).
João Miguel Barros was elected the first President of the “Halftone – Photographic Association of Macau” (www.halftone.photo), for the biennium 2021-2022.
He is the founder of the “Ochre Space” (www.ochrespace.com) in Lisbon a center focused on contemporary photography, with an art gallery, bookshop, and publisher.
Awards
2021:
– 3rd Place in the category “Photojournalism (Amateur)” and Nomination of the FAPA – Fine Art Photography Awards, with the project “Akuapem”. (Here: https://fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2020-2021/amateur/photojournalism)
2020:
– Winner in the category “Single pictures” of the Fotofestival Lenzburg 2020, with the photo “Self-Portrait of A Not So Young Artist In Times of Crisis.” https://www.fotofestivallenzburg.ch/en/times-under-pressure-exhibition-of-the-competition-pictures-category-single-picture/)
– Silver 2020 in the category of Editorial / Sports of the Moscow International Foto Awards, with the project “Akuapem”. (Here: https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/winners/moscow/2020/5374/)
– Gold in the category “Press/Other” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the project “Jamestown” (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/px3/2020/11524/)
– Bronze in the category Editorial / Photo Essay of the Budapest International Foto Awards 2020, with the project “Jamestown”. (Here: https://budapestfotoawards.com/winners/bifa/2020/5543/ )
– Silver 2020 in the category of Editorial / Photo Essay of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Akuapem”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/social/2020/Akuapem-1/)
– Silver 2020 in the category of Editorial / Sports of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Akuapem”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/social/2020/Akuapem-1/)
2019:
– 1st Place in the category “Photojournalism (Amateur)” of the FAPA – Fine Art Photography Awards, with the project “Wisdom Preparatory Academy”. (Here: https://fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2018-2019/amateur/photojournalism/gold-award)
– 2nd Place (Silver) in the category of Editorial/Photo Essay of the Moscow International Foto Awards, with the project “Wisdom Preparatory Academy”. (Here: https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/winners/moscow/2019/5169/)
– 3rd Place (Bronze) in the category of Portrait / Children of the PX3 Prix de la Photography Paris, with the photo “Child’s Dream”. (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/px3/2019/10629/)
– 2nd Place in the category “Editorial / Press / Contemporary Issues (Non-Prof.)” of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the project “Wisdom Academy”. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-167824-19)
– Silver 2019 in the category of Editorial / Photo Essay of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Wisdom preparatory Academy”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/tokyo/2019/5147/)
2018:
– 3rd Place in the category “Press” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the project “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/px3/2018/9729/)
– 1st Place in the category “Editorial / Sports (Non-Prof.) of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the project “Blood, Sweat & Tears”. (Here: https://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-159343-18)
– 1st Place in the category Non-prof. / Editorial of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Blood, Sweat & Tears”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/tokyo/2018/4930/)
– Gold Medal in the subcategory Editorial / Sports of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Blood, Sweat & Tears”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/tokyo/2018/4319/)
2021:
– Nomination in the category “Open Theme (Amateur)” of the FAPA – Fine Art Photography Awards, with the photo “No face”. (Here: https://fineartphotoawards.com/winners-gallery/fapa-2020-2021/amateur/open-theme)
2020:
– Honorable Mention in the category “OneShot: Movement – Street Photography” of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the image “On the way to the football stadium”. (Here:http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-190345-20)
– Honorable Mention of the Moscow International Foto Awards, with the project “Jamestown”. (Here:https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/winners/hm/2020/10-24484-19/)
– Honorable Mention of the Moscow International Foto Awards, with the single photo “Self-Portrait of A Not So Young Artist In Times of Crisis.” (Here: https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/winners/hm/2020/10-24618-20/)
– Honorable Mention of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the category of “Architecture / Bridges” with the single photo “The Path on The Other Side”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/hm/2019/23-16921-19/)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Press/Sport” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the project “Akuapem” (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-90737-19/)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Press” and in the category “Travel Tourism” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the photo “Buddhism Faith”. (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-91586-20/)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Press/Sport” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the photo “Buddhism Faith”. (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-95434-20/)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Press” and in the category “Travel Tourism” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the photo “Monk”. (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-95435-20/)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Press” and in the category “Travel Tourism” of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Paris, with the photo “Buddhism Faith”. (Here: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-91586-20/)
– Honorable Mention of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, in the category of “Editorial / General News”, with the single photo “Self-Portrait of A Not So Young Artist In Times of Crisis”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/hm/2020/4515/
– Honorable Mention of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, in the category of “Editorial / Photo Essay”, with the project “Jamestown”. (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/hm/2020/4945/
2019:
– Honorable Mention in the category “People, Children (Non-Prof.)” and in the category “People, Portrait (Non-Prof.) of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the photo “Child Dreams”. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-172996-19)
– Honorable Mention in the category “ Editorial / Press, PhotoEssay / Feature Story (Non-Prof.)” and in the category of “Sports – Sport Competitions (Non-Prof.) of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the photo “Boxing, Part II”. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-172997-19)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Architecture, Bridges (Non-Prof.)” of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the photo “The Path on the Other Side” from the Photo-Scripts project. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-167826-19)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Editorial / Press, Photo Essay / Feature Story (Non-Prof.” of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the project “Wisdom Training”. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-172936-19)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Sports – Sport Competitions (Non-Prof.)” of the International Photography Awards, New York, with the project “Fighting Hard”. (Here: http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-172948-19)
2018:
– Honorable Mention in the category “People: Other” of the ND Awards, with the project “Tribute”. (Here: https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2018/non-professional/other/hm/9000)
– Honorable Mention in the category “Nature: Trees” of the ND Awards, with the project “Loneliness Tree”. (Here: https://ndawards.net/winners-gallery/nd-awards-2018/non-professional/trees/hm/8897)
– Honorable Mention in the category of the Tokyo International Foto Awards, with the project “Night Visions” (Here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/hm/2018/23-15112-18/)
– Honorable Mention in the category Amateurs “Landscapes” of the Monochrome Photography Awards, with the project “Loneliness Tree”. (Here: https://monoawards.com/winners-gallery/monochrome-awards-2018/amateur/landscapes/hm/9051)
– Selected artist of YICCA – International Contest of Contemporary Art, Milan, 2017/18, with a photo for the project “Tribute”.