William Blake insisted that if "the doors of perception were purified everything would appear before man as it really is: infinite." From this phrase comes the title of an essay by Aldous Huxley The Doors of Perception, and the name of a legendary group, The Doors, as well as one of its most emblematic songs, "Break on Through" in which they remind us of something we intend forget: You know that the day destroys the night, that the night divides the day. You try to run, you try to hide, to break through to the other side. We have to establish what it means to "purify", and to accept the anxious impossibility of understanding the "infinite".

 

Some people assume that these "doors of perception" are the senses, and that these, in turn, are more like windows (windows are less determinant than doors, since they do not require going out or entering with their feet and heads) . According to this version, the "purification" would be equivalent to a simple cleaning with a good vinegar and yesterday's newspaper. But the senses try to "make sense", give us the missing piece and fit in the always incomplete constructive system of our own reality: that's why we say "have a nose for opportunities", "good taste to find the right combination" , "tact to present a complaint", "view for future situations", "hearing to compose". With this introduction I only try to explain my gratitude to a photographer who seeks to purify himself by giving meaning to his vision of our city and the world, and thus, to look out, or open the door, to the constant challenges of a staggering infinity.

 

Federico Vegas

  

Luis Augusto Vegas Vicentini, Venezuelan artist.

 

Artist and self taught photographer who discovered his passion for 35mm photography in 1992 when he was a junior in high school. That same year Luis chose to do a summer internship at Fischer Grey Advertising, where under the guidance of his senior staff began to approach and capture life through his camera. Over the next years he was convinced that his future would be without a doubt about photography and advertising.

 

Luis captured the world in 35mm black and white photography, abstracts, portraits and architecture.

 

By 1998 began a career in advertising, having worked in some of the most prestigious agencies in Venezuela. During this period he was an executive producer, producing ads for TV, radio spots and photoshoots. Luis also worked closely with some of his country's most sought out photographers, being on set and soaking in the general feel of their productions and creative processes. During these years he continued shooting 35mm and thru time adapting into digital photography through his travels and experiences, as well as undertaking some professional projects.

 

In 2009 Luis decided once and for all to focus solely on his true passion, photography, working hard on keeping up with emerging technologies in this digital world we live in.

 

During the next five years Luis participated in group exhibitions, photography contests and had his first solo exhibition "Katharsys In HDR", Venezuela's first ever exhibit solely on High Dynamic Range photography.

 

Since 1999, Venezuela has been engulfed in a never-ending escalation of political violence that finally evolved into a narco-genocidal dictatorship where unimaginable corruption has destroyed all aspects of a modern and civilized life, turning a beautiful country into hell on earth, and in 2014 Luis, like most Venezuelan artists from his generation, was forced to leave Venezuela in search for peace, security and progress.

 

Nowadays living in the Dominican Republic, Luis is exploring this new landscape, its people and culture while constantly working on capturing that impeccable image, one that tells a message, arouses feelings or shows an interesting story to the observer.

 

The never ending search of beautiful photography ensues...

 

Instagram: @lavvphotopublic