As part of the 13th International Photography Festival Vizualizator, Novembar Gallery opened the exhibition “The Narcissism of Small Differences” by artist Pauliana Valente Pimentel, one of the most prominent figures of contemporary Portuguese photography.

Created on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, the series presents intimate portraits of young people who navigate between tradition, societal expectations, and contemporary identity. The equal dimensions of all portraits and the absence of hierarchy create a homogeneous visual structure in which differences are not suppressed but instead become a space for empathy and understanding.

The artist attended the exhibition opening, where a conversation with the audience was held. On that occasion, Pimentel emphasized:
“I try to reveal through portrait what people often hide — fragility, vulnerability, but also dignity. When we remove the differences that define us externally, what remains is what is universally human.”

Pauliana Valente Pimentel belongs to the generation of photographers who redefined Portuguese documentary and artistic practice after the 2000s. She is the recipient of the Portuguese Authors’ Society Award (2015), has been nominated for the NOVO BANCO Photo Award, and her works are part of major collections such as the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, MAAT, and the State Collection of Portugal.

The exhibition “The Narcissism of Small Differences,” is supported by the Embassy of Portugal in Belgrade.