Inhabited Designs builds upon resonances between the works of two of the first authors to form part of the Foto Colectania collection, revealing their personal approach to the creative process.
The title of the exhibition pays homage to Helena Almeida’s Desenho habitado, the first series in which she used photography. Pepe Font de Mora, the curator of the exhibition also drew upon the original concept of design in its Renaissance meaning, which refers both to the drawing itself as well as to the project and the mental process of translating an artist’s idea into work. A practice that accurately defines the fascinating work of these artists.
The peculiarity that both Almeida and Madoz made sketches is possibly related to their shared interest in the intimate and experiential. Both artists made countless sketches – which did not always materialise into works – as a first step towards materialising their ideas through pencil and paper. In this exhibition we wanted to highlight the intrinsic value of these drawings as mere and beautiful sketches, the end result coming to life through photography.
Almeida sometimes intervenes in her work with carefully executed brushstrokes or pencil strokes, and always fascinates us with her study of reflection and theatricality.
Madoz draws in the personal notebooks he has kept over the years, which we are showing for the first time in this exhibition alongside some of the objects he assembles by hand. Thus, his sketches become objects and his objects become images, with his characteristic style and fascinating touches.
The Foto Colectania collection brings together more than 3,000 photographs and aims to reflect the diversity of Spanish and Portuguese photography – from 1950 to the present day – through an extensive collection of works by each of the photographers represented.
Inhabited Designs: Chema Madoz | Helena Almeida
Apr 15 – Aug 23, 2026
Galerie le Château d’Eau
Toulouse, France
