The Blending of Worlds with Marilia Gurgel

Name, age, where are you from, what format you like using, what are you currently working on if you are? 

Marília Gurgel, 36, moving image and film photography. Currently I’ve been using 35mm and polaroids

What about your surroundings/environments and upbringing interested you? 

That’s interesting. My parents divorced when I was five, which gave me the privilege of navigating two different worlds—the colorful and vibrant universe of Mossoro, a small town in northeastern Brazil, and the meticulously designed environment of Brasilia, the country’s capital. This has greatly influenced my work, blending aesthetics that drive my research on the sense of belonging and the relationship between humans and the land.

When was the first time you met photography? How did you feel when you met it?

I’ve been connected to photography my entire life—starting with point-and-shoot cameras in the ’90s, then Cybershots in the early 2000s, and finally mobile photography. I feel my generation was overwhelmed by the idea of taking pictures and eventually sharing them. However, my first meaningful encounter with photography came in 2019 when I visited Claudia Andujar’s gallery in Inhotim. I was mesmerized by her sensitive and profound work with the Yanomami indigenous community in Brazil—a lifelong commitment to raising awareness about their fight for survival. I was in awe of the different techniques she used: infrared, long exposures, close-ups—she had it all. From that day on, I decided to pursue photography. Three years later, I was lucky enough to meet her at the opening of her show in New York. I knelt down and thanked her for the inspiration. It was a magic moment.

Tell us about current projects you have been working on (could be any, or just work you have been doing in general). Is this story inspired out of personal reasons, or others? What are you most excited about in these projects? 

I’m currently living in Mozambique on assignment for a humanitarian aid organization, where I tell the stories of patients and the community we serve—that’s my work life. In my artistic life, I continue to explore the meaning of belonging, creating through the experience of expatriation, living away from my homeland, and discovering a new environment and culture. What really excites me right now is blending this African experience with my South American roots.

How did you find your visual literacy? Why are you attracted to certain images more than others? 

I think I’m still searching for it—and I might always be. I believe my work needs to reflect the environment I’m in, which will change every time I move. But one thing I’m sure of is that I’ll always seek “alternative” ways of photographing. I’m intrigued by the mix, the in-between spaces, and the unseen.

Imagine meeting someone who is picking up a camera for the first time. What do you tell them?

Every story is worth to be told. Follow your heart – it will guide you through it.