Found Not Taken

Found Not Taken: Urban Objects Reimagined Through Photography

In Found Not Taken, Angolan artist Edson Chagas transforms ordinary discarded objects into striking photographic compositions that challenge how we perceive everyday reality. The project documents Chagas walking through the streets of Luanda, London, and Newport, collecting abandoned items and repositioning them—sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically—before photographing them against carefully selected urban backgrounds.

Removed from their original context, these mundane objects become powerful visual symbols that animate the cityscape. Through this artistic intervention, Chagas explores themes of consumer culture, waste, urban identity, and perception, revealing how objects can take on entirely new meaning when reframed through photography.

The series gained international recognition when a selection of the works represented Angola at the 55th Venice Biennale, where it was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation.

Edson Chagas (b. 1977) lives and works in Luanda, Angola. He studied photography and audio in Portugal before continuing his studies in photojournalism at the London College of Communication and documentary photography at the University of Newport, Wales. His work has been exhibited internationally across Europe and Africa, including solo exhibitions in Italy, Luanda, and the United Kingdom, as well as major group exhibitions such as the Luanda Triennial, Mediations Biennale, and exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London.

Features:

• A compelling photographic exploration of urban objects and visual perception
• Images captured in Luanda, London, and Newport
• Explores themes of consumerism, waste, and constructed reality
• Includes works from the award-winning Venice Biennale series
• Ideal for readers interested in contemporary photography, conceptual art, and urban culture

A thought-provoking photography book that transforms overlooked objects into bold visual icons of modern city life.

By Edson Chagas