Quilo: Journal of Photographic Tales from Brazil
Quilo is a single edition bookish publication conceived by Mico Toledo and designed by Porto Rocha (Natalia Oledzka and Victor Carvalho). It brings together the work of 38 contemporary photographers and six writers from Brazil in an unprecedented collection of some of the country’s best documentary photography and writing.
Over the past few years, conservative ideologies have had a negative impact on Brazil’s cultural environment. Against this backdrop, documenting the numerous communities that inhabit the country’s political landscape, the magazine can be seen as an act of rebellion or a testament of love and resilience – a sanctuary in print. It celebrates the diverse creative communities of Brazil and serves as a counterstrike against the growing extremism and intolerance in the country, under the oppressive rule of the former president.
Spanning across 300 pages, the magazine is an amalgamation of short stories and visuals from over 40 contributors such as Jonathas de Andrade, Valda Nogueira, Rodrigo Oliveira, Stefanie Moshammer to name a few. It takes readers on a meandering journey from the northernmost reaches of the country to its southern tip. With each section introduced by writers from that region, readers get a glimpse into the folklore of the country. It strives to add depth and texture to the stories, while oscillating between photographs that capture moments frozen in time overlayed with grainy texture, muted tones and words that evoke emotion to guide the reader to the heart of the narrative.
The editorial design and visual language captures the essence of Brazil in the present day. The layouts, inspired by Brazilian Modernist design vernacular, are raw and bold. While the neutral and approachable kraft paper cover speaks to a more rustic side of the country. The typography combines the classic serif Ivar Text with Scto Grotesk B, a semi-condensed neogrotesque with expressive details, creating a feeling that is both contemporary and timeless. The interplay between tension and fluidity is created by the juxtaposition of free flowing visuals punctuated with text.
The front cover shows the table of contents, sandwiched between the publication title set in a narrow style of ABC Gravity and a tagline set in Scto Grotesk B and Millionaire.
