Nomas #22
240 x 330 mm, 200 pages
Athens, Greece
Editors-in-chief: Yannis Bournias and Lina Stefanou
Creative director: Dimitris Papazoglou
Every issue of Nomas explores a different destination or theme through photography, writing, local craftspeople and more.
Issue #22 is a tender tribute to Lisbon, Portugal’s coastal capital, penned and curated with the perspective of artists, musicians, and residents—both borne of, and charmed by, the city—in mind. Co–editor Lina Stefanou introduces this expansive azul edition, attempting the near-impossible task of giving form to what she sees as a metropolis of multitudes: ‘Shutting Lisbon in one issue is like trying to drain the sea with a spoon. Yet we tried it with quixotic persistence.’ Opening with a diary entry from Stefanou, as is now customary, the reader is introduced to Lisbon through the inquisitive eyes of a tourist feeling her way around the hilly streets in search of the city’s soul by way of its residents, historical and architectural landmarks, museums, bars and eateries. What stands out in her account is the pride of its residents and the palpable tensions felt amid an influx of tourism and holiday rentals.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a series of semiotically-loaded black and white photographs, printed on glossy paper stock, by Alfredo Cunha—a groundbreaking Portuguese photojournalist who has made it his life’s mission to chronicle Portugal’s turbulent history as it has unfolded over the past half-century—accompanied by an interview and reflections on his artistic life; Portuguese singer Carminho, whose voice was recently immortalised in Yorgos Lanthimos ‘Poor Things’, shares her contemporary take on traditional fado music; and, two fashion editorials, styled by Nelly Gonclaves, celebrate the diverse women that embody the city.