How to Fly (2017)
(book, 96 pages, 21 x 26 cm, Softcover, Offset Print, First edition)
How to Fly is a visual essay informed by flying and flying machines, it is also sort of broken manual that gives one illusive directions in how to build and fly an airplane. Build around four distinct moments, the project follows a structure drawn from the style of poetic narrative. The photographs in this body of work, inspired by the Guimarães’ life memories, were produced in the context of a two years’ private pilot training program, during which the author followed is brother J. until he gained a flying licence.
You can order the book online through XYZ Books website.
In ‘How to fly’ photographer Pedro Guimarães takes us on a poetic journey into the subculture of private aviation. The language he employs takes the disguise of the documentary genre yet what initially appears to be a flight manual quickly reveals Guimarães’ true autobiographical intentions through the use of poetic punctuation.
‘How to fly’ is, after all, a reflection on the inevitable traumatic events of life and describes a series of emergency maneuvers designed to keep oneself alive.
Scroll down for more to see more images from this project.