Published by SEVENSTORE
Author: Millie Throp
Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet where photographer and curator Armand Da Silva exerts such passion at his inventory of concave couches and one-off gems, it exceeds taste or preference. Where unorthodox forms may bewilder, Armand is enamoured. Where separation lies between archivism and image-making, Armand is a mediator. His multi-facets interweave, accustomed to billowing settees, or the curve of a muse’s spine. He captures identities in their raw form with a shaken polaroid or digital exposure, and some props plucked from his personal catalogue.
As he sits down with SEVENSTORE at his London studio, ‘time&space’, arched seats mimic human form, where his hobbyist selections raise a likeness to the human condition. With the need for identity, interaction, and stimulation pillars amongst the fundamentals of this, his place as camera wielder, curator, and collector fulfils these criteria as he ushers the public into his space for shoot or showroom.
Armand shares stories of his early and intersectional creativity, donning a London-centric attentiveness. He notes how his fledgling interest in architecture reared its head in later life, touching also upon his flourishing photography career. The multi-facet expresses his personal response to the modern age’s fleeting attention economy, a drawback of image accessibility, but a triumph for imagination. Armand finds social media his own personal paradox: a seedbed of inspiration yet retracting from tangible experience.
For him, there is a thrill in the seek at a furniture sale, and in providing a space for muses to play within his portraiture. But aesthetic is the true magnet of Armand’s eye and an impetus of his being – an influence that drapes him from shoulder to shoulder in the highest qualities that global design has to offer; a motive for each ephemera invested, and every passing moment captured. Between the binds of his own collectors’ scape, Armand opens up about his preferential passions and using curation as a tool for clarity, amongst a deeper insight into his artistic modus operandi.
MT: You seem to wear a few different hats. Can you please start by introducing yourself and what these are?
ADS: My name is Armand Da Silva and I'm a photographer, and archivist.
MT: Was your creative streak prevalent at an early age, would you say? Or, for example, sparked by seeing a particular piece, something that progressed later, etc..?
ADS: I’ve always had a passion for art and design from a young age. My dream occupation was to be an architect which never came into fruition, but I always kept it close to my heart. Then, several years ago I was walking past a shop close to my area that sold 1960s and 1970s furniture, and from that moment on I just fell in love specifically with furniture and design from that era.
MT: As image-making came first for you, and considering the angular poses and warping props that feature in your images, would you say that photography inspired your venture into archivism and interiors? Or maybe, that they both inspire each other?
ADS: I wouldn’t say my photography inspired my venture into archivism and interiors. I’ve always had an interest in interiors from an early age, so it’s always been a part of me. Although now, I do try to incorporate the furniture in my work when I can or if it makes sense.
MT: There seems to be an influence of 60s and 70s style in some of your acquired pieces. Considering these would have been revolutionary in their time, would you say that our modern times of social media make it harder to be truly in awe of a space or a furniture item? If so, would you say this creates a desire to find wilder items and less conventional spaces?
ADS: I don’t think social media necessarily makes it harder to be in awe of a space or furniture item, if anything I think social media is a powerful tool for sharing and discovering old and new inspiring design ideas. Saying that though, I think social media has also created a sense of over saturation which I think can make it difficult to actually appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of a particular item or space. But ultimately, personal taste and preference play a significant role in the choice of furniture and design regardless of whether you’re influenced by social media.
SEVENSTORE: With this, your workshop / studio ‘time&space’ features state of the art, one-off pieces amongst contemporary furniture. How do you and your partner go about acquiring such items? Is there a joy for exploring or rummaging rooted within this?
ADS: Myself and my partner are always on the lookout for pieces and furniture every day. We’re always on our phones searching for the best deal we can get, going to auctions and even going abroad just to find rare pieces so we can have them in our space.
SEVENSTORE: What is it like working with your partner? Do you think, for example, your harmonious yet contrasting differences balance the outputs and visions of ‘time&space?’
ADS: Working with my partner feels so seamless. It’s a bonus because we’re so alike in terms of what we’re into, our interests and taste level. If she doesn’t like something, I probably don’t like it either and vice versa.
SEVENSTORE: Furniture and portraiture are intertwined by your love for design. How does this then feed into your wardrobe, taste level and even other areas of your life?
ADS: I would say that my love for good design definitely plays a key role when it comes to my wardrobe and my taste level. I’m particularly drawn to items from the past, including my wardrobe, photography equipment and furniture collection. When I buy clothes, most of the times I’d buy archive clothing from Japanese and European designers. I think the craftsmanship and attention to detail present in these objects from a bygone era are far superior, with a higher quality that ensures their longevity when compared to things of today.
SEVENSTORE: Regarding individuals that you encounter through ‘time&space’ but also in your image-based practise, it seems you have a way of capturing unique identities. From Pharrell Williams to Mowalola, how do you approach portraying such characters authentically?
ADS: I think when photographing someone – whoever it may be – it’s important to approach them with respect and openness, allowing them to express themselves freely and authentically. I think that is when I capture the best photos: creating a comfortable and safe space for them to be themselves. And to add to that, I think it's important to be attuned to the nuances of the subject’s personality, style, and energy.
SEVENSTORE: Do you think the act of curation, and composition refreshes your perspective creatively?
ADS: I think the act of curation and composition definitely refreshes my perspective creatively. I think by carefully selecting and arranging items or elements, you can create a new context or narrative that can inspire new ideas and perspectives. It can also be a form of self-expression and experimentation, allowing for new ideas and combinations to emerge that might not have been possible otherwise.