Water Silhouettes

Guta de Carvalho’s debut in photography was at the age of 12 with his fascination for the "alchemy" of the lab. In 1982 prompted by Augusto Cabrita, he travelled to New York, where he came into contact with Ralph Gibson, Richard Avedon, Sofie Rivera, Arlene Gottfried and Ani Gonzalez Rivera. He did an internship in museum conservation at Carol Brower’s studio, held workshops and participated in the group exhibition "Todos Uno" (with Sofie Rivera, Arlene Gottefried and Manuel Alvarez Bravo Master). He was admitted to the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, MoMA. In 1983, Guta published the book New York Rhapsody (title by Alexandre O'Neill) with texts and design by Augusto Cabrita. He exhibited at the Museum Carlos Machado, in São Miguel, Azores, and at the YMCA Gallery in New York, and took part in the Iberian Exhibition of Campo Maior. He published postcards photographs in the US and exhibited New York Rhapsody at the Évora Museum and the Cooperativa Árvore in Porto (American Culture Cycle of the US Embassy’s Cultural Department). In 1985, Guta returned to New York where he worked for the United Nations. In 1987, at the suggestion of David Mourão-Ferreira, he launched the Navigations project –images interwoven with poems by Portuguese authors. On May 11, 1989 he opened his studio in Belém, Lisbon. Contributions to this project include the photo coverage in Lisbon and in New York of the Regatta Columbus '92 (National Commission for the Commemoration of the Portuguese Discoveries); a solo exhibition at Casa dos Bicos, integrated in "Lisbon, Port of Adventure” (Commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America) and as official photographer of the “Lisbon Sail 98-Vasco da Gama Memorial" (Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race), where he travelled in the training ship Sagres from Falmouth to Lisbon, at Expo 98. In July 2006, Guta sailed in the NRP Sagres from Lisbon to Cadiz (Gran Regata Cádiz 2006). In 2010 he journeyed to Goa in order to sail to Egypt, also aboard the Sagres. In 2011 he presented a touring exhibition with images of the Third Circumnavigation Voyage of the NRP Sagres. At the service of the performing arts, he covered the Berlin and Venice film festivals for the Italian magazine Gente Viaje. In 2009, Guta held the exhibition "The Sculptual Element’s Making Of", illustrating the work developed by Master Malangatana over a period of six months. He designed all communication elements and the image of this initiative, as well as the image used for the play "Crossroads of Cultures", released by Vista Alegre in honour of Master Malangatana.