Charred Beauty

“Charred Beauty” is an ongoing photographic project documenting the changing landscape of an area in Portugal, destroyed by a forest fire in July 2023, which bears witness to the contemporary conflict between humanity and nature.

“Charred Beauty” is a photographic project documenting the landscape in the aftermath of two forest fires in an area near Cascais, Portugal. I spent one and a half years photographing the two areas most affected by these fires.

First fire was in July 2023, and it took hundreds of firefighters several days to extinguish the fire which started in the Sintra-Cascais natural park and was spreading fast toward the coast, an area which is very populated. The second fire was almost exactly a year later. The extreme weather conditions, including drought, high temperatures, and wind made perfect conditions for the fires to spread very fast.

"Charred Beauty" serves as a reminder of the consequences of human impact on the environment, particularly the escalating threat of forest fires in the Iberian Peninsula. 

Born in former Yugoslavia, I have witnessed the impact of conflict on landscapes and lives. My art is rooted in the themes of belonging, fragility and destruction. I see similar themes here. Signs of human presence alongside charred trees and leaves bear witness to the contemporary conflict between humanity and nature that is global warming.

In line with my project's mission, I made a photo book , capturing the effects on the landscape, and nature's recovery. In Portugal, the majority of firefighters are volunteers so I would like to donate a portion of any proceeds to them. The book is currently on display at the University of Cambridge.