As the world got faster, it’s easy to lose track of who you are amidst the constant need to answer to all the challenges and requests that pop out of the blue. 

That’s why I daydream.  

I dream of where I’d like my work to be seen. Where it belongs. What should I devote my attention to. Think about expansion without any boundaries and limitations. 

I dream so big I can see all the possibilities. Going beyond expectations and preconceived versions of success allows me to see what I truly yearn for. 

And then I consider consequences. 

If I make XYZ image, what message will it bring to the world? What’s its role in my body of work? How could it fit into my archive? 

When I have ideas, better, when ideas cross my mind, I instantly think of them as part of a retrospective I’ll do when I turn 60. Do they fit into my narrative? How do I want to be remembered by? If someone makes a monograph about my work, does this photograph or series belong there? 

And that’s how I keep track of who I am in my work. By making sure I’m actively making the work I want to be remembered for.

Matilde Viegas –
Photographer

Matilde Viegas is a photographer currently based in Porto, Portugal. Her work intimately explores contexts, oftentimes capturing manifestations of home and belonging in the process. Her photos have been published in titles such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Monocle & The Guardian and she has worked with clients such as Cartier, Lemaire or Iittala . Matilde conducts photography masterclasses and mentoring sessions while running a color darkroom in Porto. 

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