Mimetic

Oskar Alvarado

2019 – work in progress — Spain

About this series

The contemplation of nature has served as a technological, scientific, philosophical or aesthetic inspiration in the evolution of the human race. But what will these imitation processes be like in the future?

With the gradual environmental degradation of the Earth, will the possibility of inhabiting new planets where we can recreate the landscapes and ecosystems in which we live, or contact with new forms of intelligence, completely change the concept of representation of reality that we know of? 

Photographer: Oskar Alvarado
Nationality: Spanish
Based in: Barcelona, Spain
Website: oskaralvarado.com
Instagram: @oskaralvarado.photography

Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, Oskar Alvarado resides in Barcelona where he combines his work as a Photography teacher with the production of personal works. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Basque Country University, from which he received a grant to develop the photographic project Conexiones in an artist residence in Arteleku Art Center in San Sebastián.
He later moved to Barcelona to study photography and a MA on Curatorial and Cultural Practices in Art and New at Media Center d’Art i Disseny MECAD, ESDI.

He has been one of the winners of the Helsinki Photo Festival 2018 (Finland) and his work has been selected in different international festivals such as the Voies Off Awards in Arles (France), Solar Foto Festival in Fortaleza (Brazil) and the Addis Foto Fest in Addis Abeba (Ethiopia).

Education

2003   MA on Curatorial and Cultural Practices in Art and New Media. MECAD, ESDI. Barcelona, Spain
1996-97   Grisart International School of Photography. Barcelona, Spain
1989-94   Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts. UPV, Basque Country University. Leioa – Vizcaya, Spain

Awards and Mentions / Selections

2019       IMAGO LISBOA PHOTO FESTIVAL. Photo Folio Review. Lisbon, Portugal – Selected    
2019       LUCIE FOUNDATION. Chromalux X Fine Art Scholarship. Los Angeles, USA – Shortlisted
2019       PHOTOESPAÑA. Discoveries PHE19. Madrid, Spain – Selected
2019       FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS. London, UK – Nominee
2018       HELSINKI PHOTO FESTIVAL. Helsinki, Finland – Winner
2018       TOKIO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS. Tokio, Japan – Gold Winner and Honorable Mention
2018       INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS. Los Angeles, USA – 2nd Place Winner
2018       SOLAR FOTO FESTIVAL. Fortaleza, Brazil – Selected  
2018       PH21 GALLERY. Nocturnal, a Curated International Photography Exhibition. Budapest, Hungary – Selected
2017       BURN EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER FUND, Burn Magazine. USA – Shortlisted
2016       ADDIS FOTO FEST. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Selected
2014       VOIES OFF AWARDS. Arles, France – Selected

Solo exhibitions
2016       Insomnia. La Grey, Space for Contemporary Creation. SCAN Tarragona 2016, International Photography Festival. Spain

Group exhibitions / Selection
2018       Insomnia. PH21 GALLERY. Nocturna, a curated international photography exhibition. Budapest, Hungary
2018       Insomnia. HELSINKI PHOTO FESTIVAL. Galleria Futura and Kellohalli. Helsinki, Finland
2016       Insomnia. ADDIS FOTO FEST. Sheraton Addis H. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Publications
2019       Where Fireflies Unfold. BURN MAGAZINE.    
2019       Insomnia. LIFE FRAMER, Night life Editor’s Pick
2018       Lucernario. DER GREIF, Guest Room. «Post HomoSapiens» An online exhibition curated by Mónica Allende