DISTANTE
transmedia artist based in Berlin
Distante’s practice questions the limits between reality and fiction while delving into the conflicts present in globalized society. In a world saturated with copies, signals, and contradictions, he aims at reactivating the diminished aura of lived experience.
His work spans painting, installation, sound, video, performance and architecture, which he often combines through transmedia storytelling.
At 14, graffiti sparked a lifelong ritual of inscription - on walls, on memory, on systems. He learned the language of movement, resistance and beat through hip-hop and rave culture. That physicality became the bedrock of his visual and sonic vocabulary.
For over a decade, his methodology has relied on data-collection pilgrimages. He has compiled a vast multidisciplinary archive, whose items are sampled and remixed to create new narratives. He doesn’t see archival records as static or ‘dead’, but as raw material with its own dynamic potential, waiting to be harnessed in new and exciting ways.
Self-inquiry, curiosity and the drive to experience the world in first-person inform his intertwining of domains and techniques. Trained as an architect and painter, he has gravitated to liminal spaces between the two disciplines and towards the hijacking of architectural discourse and processes.
He perceives spirituality, Nature and technology as a continuous territory to be explored.
An insight emerged into how generative processes can resonate with spiritual practices. This understanding guides the artist’s creation of spaces for contemplation and discussion in constant transformation, which he regards as open-ended works.
He sees Art as a psychonautic science and is searching for a poetic theory of everything.
Distante is an Arts and Media Meisterschüler at Berlin University of the Arts, focusing on Generative Arts / Computational Arts under Prof. Alberto de Campo.
EDUCATION:
Meisterschüler Arts & Media - Generative Arts / Computational Arts - Berlin University of the Arts under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Alberto de Campo
Master of Arts — Painting — Fine-Arts Faculty — Lisbon University, graduated with high distinction, project thesis Dark Atlas: Nomadism between Reality and Fiction under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Manuel Botelho, Prof. Dr. João Seguro and Prof. Dr. Rui Serra
Master of Architecture — Lusíada University Lisbon, graduated with distinction, thesis Poetics in the Age of Information under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Fernando Hipólito
Piano Free Course, CODARTS Rotterdam Music Conservatory
Concept Art Course, ETIC, Lisbon, 2020/2021
MENTORSHIP:
Shine Lu - studio mentorship (8 months), Yangon, 2018
João Garcia Miguel - internship (6 months), Lisbon, 2017
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
Plano de Fuga (Escape Plan), Dedicated, Lisbon, Portugal, 2024
The Snake Charmer, Factory Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
On Infinity, TAF The Art Foundation, Athens, Greece, 2022
Passagens, Cosmos, Lisbon, Portugal. 2022
Process, Institut Français de Birmanie, Yangon, Myanmar, 2022
In Utero, Útero - Casa d'Arte, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
Dark Atlas, Mute Art Project, Lisbon, Portugal, 2019
MA Painting thesis exhibition, FBAUL, Lisbon, Portugal, 2019
Infinisterra, Museu do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, 2015
Infinisterra, Lx Factory, Lisbon, Portugal, 2013
Infinisterra, Universidade Lusíada Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal, 2013
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED):
VIDEONALE.20 Prologue, Schaumburg, Bonn, Germany, 2025
Protocols, Pandora Art Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 2025
WIR, die gelbe Villa, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Snakes And Ladders II, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Materia Architectures, Césure, Paris, France, 2025
Kleiner Rundgang, UdK Medienhaus, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Heritage, Italian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, 2025
Snakes And Ladders, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany, 2024
An Assembly: Performing Contemporary, UdK Medienhaus, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Video Art Screening, Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2024
24 24: A Day on Earth, Wasserschloss Reelkirchen, Blomberg, Germany, 2024
Exploring Sound Fields: Imaginary Workspace, Bauhaus Reuse, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Waking Up in A World, Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2022
IGNIÇÃO, Rastilho Cultural, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
Rare Effect vol2 - NFT Festival, Arroz Estúdios, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
Design Trust: Critically Homemade, House Studio - Soho House HK, Hong Kong, 2020
The Parasol Project, River Gallery, Yangon, Myanmar, 2019
30 Years of Fundação Oriente’s Scolarships, Museu do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018
GAB-A / Galerias Abertas das Belas-Artes 11ª Edição, FBAUL, Lisbon, Portugal, 2017
VI Bienal Culturas Lusófonas, Centro de Exposições de Odivelas, Portugal, 2017
Lusíada 30 Anos Arquitectura, Museu dos Coches, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
BOOM Festival 2016, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal, 2016
A Paiã em Arte, Centro de Exposições de Odivelas, Portugal, 2016
Festival AURA, Sintra, Portugal, 2015
De Onde para Onde, ISEG, Lisbon, Portugal, 2015
IndieLisboa 2015 Videotheque, Culturgest, Lisbon, Portugal, 2015
MINDtheGAP, The Storefront for Art & Architecture, New York, USA, 2013
ARTSCIST, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, 2010
ENTRE PÓLOS, Lisbon, Portugal, 2010
PERFORMANCES:
Skene, Act III (w/ Error-43, Sara Paternesi & Kuntay Seferoglu), Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2025
LaBase, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Untergeschoss der Pandora, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Snakes And Ladders, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Exposure, Bauhaus Reuse, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Searching For Lost Time, KUNSTRAUM Potsdamer Straße, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Skene, Act II (w/ Error-43 & Sara Paternesi), Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Skene (w/ Error-43 & Sara Paternesi), Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2022
Akasha (w/ F. Pimpão), Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 202
Brinks of Perception (w/ Error-43), Artemis Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal, 202
In Utero (w/ Error-43), Útero - Casa d'Arte, Lisbon, Portugal, 202
Dark Atlas (w/ F. Pimpão), Mute Art Project, Lisbon, Portugal, 2019
CURATION:
Protocols, Pandora Art Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Snakes And Ladders II, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany, 2025
Snakes And Ladders, Kunsthaus KuLe, Berlin, Germany, 2024
Dedicated Hip-Hop Museum, Dedicated, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023
Jump of Faith, DIRTYCOP, Rastilho Cultural, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
IGNIÇÃO II, Rastilho Cultural, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
IGNIÇÃO, Rastilho Cultural, Lisbon, Portugal, 2021
Inner World, João Garcia Miguel, Praça do Príncipe Real 19, Lisbon, Portugal, 2017
AWARDS / GRANTS:
Materia Award 2025 Finalist, Housing NOW, 2025
Nikkei Asia Award, Housing NOW, 2024
MIT Sandbox, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Housing NOW, 2023
3rd Prize/Honorable Mention, Architecture Sans Frontières International Award, Housing NOW, 2023
Changemakers Award, Factory Berlin, Housing NOW, 2023
A+ Awards Best X-Small Firm, Architizer, Blue Temple, 2023
International Design Award IDA winner, Bronze - print-Books, Atlas Obscuro/Dark Atlas, design: Tomás Gouveia 2022
MIT Solve, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Housing NOW, 2022
Portuguese Emerging Art 2020, Emerge + Fundação PLMJ, 2020
Hong-Kong Design Trust Feature Grant 2020: Bamboo Learnings From Yangon: Expanding Cantonese Bamboo Craftsmanship’s Social Impact and Design Solutions Space, Yangon, Myanmar, Blue Temple 2020
Hong-Kong Design Trust Seed Grant 2018: Gyo Byu Pipeline Initiative, Yangon, Myanmar, Blue Temple 2018
Boom Festival 2016 Student Competition, Stasis, Rethorica Studio 2016
Fundação Oriente Research Scholarship — Infinisterra — Architecture and Culture in Contemporary Asia, 2015
Nominated for Mies van der Rohe European Awards - Arkadia Apartments, IND 2014
Project of the Year - Turkish Architecture Association, Koç Swimming Pool, IND 2012
Leonardo da Vinci scholarship, 2012
1st Prize ITU Cyprus Competition, IND 2011
Honorable Mention, Troy Archeological Site Museum, Troy, Turkey, IND 2011
3rd Prize ARTSCIST International student competition, The Cell, 2010
ENTRE PÓLOS prize - Magnética magazine lllustration competition, 2010
PUBLICATIONS / PRESS:
Simulacrum - A Blue Temple Book Vol.1, 196 pages, color, author’s edition, english, 200 copies, 2025
Três Pancadas com Eko, Sam the Kid, TV Chelas, video podcast, 2023
ALGORISTS, L'ordine del caos, Matteo Bonaldo, 85 pages, color, italian, BA thesis, Istituto d’Arte Applicata e Design IAAD Bologna, 2023
Dedicated Hip-Hop Museum, NIT, CNN Portugal, June 2022
Portal, 44 pages, black & white, 12 numbered copies, Cosmos 2022
Waking Up in a World, Peggy Schoenegge, Artemis Gallery 2022
Portuguese Emerging Art Green Edition, 176 pages, color, Emerge 2020
MA Painting 2016 - 2018, 80 pages, color, FBAUL 2020
Distante - Atlas Obscuro/Dark Atlas, 72 pages, color, author’s edition, portuguese/english, 200 numbered copies, 2020
Dark Atlas: Nomadism between Reality and Fiction, 177 pages, color, MA Painting dissertation, FBAUL 2019
Inner World, Whitelies Magazine, December 2016
Hulda Festival - A Journey Into Art and Science, Yildirim Koman, Piri Can, Arici, 160 pages, color, Koman Foundation, 2015
Infinisterra — Architecture and Culture in Contemporary Asia, 118 pages, color, author’s edition, portuguese/english, 50 numbered copies, 2015
Infinisterra — VISÃO magazine, April 2015
Percursos, digital publication, Lusíada University 2014
Poetics in the Age of Information, 297 pages, color, M.Arch dissertation, Lusíada University 2011
Atelier Distante, studio for personal and collaborative production + research
Co-founder & Art Director - Housing NOW, Myanmar-based low-cost housing initiative
Director & Architect - Blue Temple, Architecture and research studio based in Myanmar
Co-founder - Infinisterra, Arts and Architecture studio based in Lisbon, 2013-2018