Natália Prata

Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1962

Biography

When my mother is pregnant with me, my father sends the family to Lisbon, where I am born, to avoid the consequences of the war in the colony
When my mother is pregnant with me, my father sends the family to Lisbon, where I am born, to avoid the consequences of the war in the colony
Rua Viriato , Lisboa , Portugal
At age two, we return to our prosperous life in Angola
At age two, we return to our prosperous life in Angola
Porto Amboim , Angola
At age 4, my gymnastics teacher recognises my talent for acrobatic gymnastics, and I dream of participating in the Olympic Games
At age 4, my gymnastics teacher recognises my talent for acrobatic gymnastics, and I dream of participating in the Olympic Games
Porto Amboim , Angola
At age 13, we flee the Cold War in Angola for Figueira da Foz in Portugal. I blame my father alone for forcing me to leave my beloved homeland and for making me unhappy with Portuguese culture, which I cannot stand
At age 13, we flee the Cold War in Angola for Figueira da Foz in Portugal. I blame my father alone for forcing me to leave my beloved homeland and for making me unhappy with Portuguese culture, which I cannot stand
Figueira da Foz , Portugal
Since I am 13, my father looks for acrobatics training for me, but he cannot find anything that matches my level
Since I am 13, my father looks for acrobatics training for me, but he cannot find anything that matches my level
Rua Afonso de Albuquerque , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 13, I start drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and swearing to my father that I will punish him until he lets me return to Angola
At age 13, I start drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and swearing to my father that I will punish him until he lets me return to Angola
Avenida Doutor Joaquim de Carvalho , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 14, my father sends me to a boarding school run by nuns in Coimbra, where I complete the first year of secondary school and am expelled on the last day. He tries in vain to find me a place at other schools
At age 14, my father sends me to a boarding school run by nuns in Coimbra, where I complete the first year of secondary school and am expelled on the last day. He tries in vain to find me a place at other schools
Rua do Brasil , Coimbra , Portugal
From age 14 to 18, I force my father to accompany me every year to look for friends from my childhood in Angola in Portugal. On these trips, he also takes me to Belgium, where we visit Angolan friends several times
From age 14 to 18, I force my father to accompany me every year to look for friends from my childhood in Angola in Portugal. On these trips, he also takes me to Belgium, where we visit Angolan friends several times
Calle Portugal , Spanje
At age 15, I take LSD for the first time and inject Preludin
At age 15, I take LSD for the first time and inject Preludin
Avenida Doutor Manuel Gaspar de Lemos , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
Since age 15, I have easy access to money, and our father gives me and my siblings everything we want. I want drugs every day
Since age 15, I have easy access to money, and our father gives me and my siblings everything we want. I want drugs every day
Rua Doutor Mira Coelho , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 23, I marry and my husband accepts my heroin use
At age 23, I marry and my husband accepts my heroin use
Avenida 25 de Abril , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 23, my husband is addicted to heroin and our relationship is changing
At age 23, my husband is addicted to heroin and our relationship is changing
Avenida 25 de Abril , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
During my seventh month of pregnancy, my husband physically attacks me
During my seventh month of pregnancy, my husband physically attacks me
Avenida 25 de Abril , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
When I am 24, my son is born without neonatal abstinence syndrome
When I am 24, my son is born without neonatal abstinence syndrome
Rua Hospital , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 24, I flee with my newborn baby to a friend in the Netherlands and return to my parents' house two months later
At age 24, I flee with my newborn baby to a friend in the Netherlands and return to my parents' house two months later
Tilburg , the Netherlands
At age 24, I leave my son with my parents and join Le Patriarche, an association for the rehabilitation of drug addicts
At age 24, I leave my son with my parents and join Le Patriarche, an association for the rehabilitation of drug addicts
La Motte-Saint-Martin , France
At age 27, I am living in the centre of the association in France, happy with the prospect of a future without drugs and a life with my son
At age 27, I am living in the centre of the association in France, happy with the prospect of a future without drugs and a life with my son
La Motte-Saint-Martin , France
At age 27, I welcome my son to Le Patriarche to live with me, but he feels unhappy, so I leave with him and go to my parents' house
At age 27, I welcome my son to Le Patriarche to live with me, but he feels unhappy, so I leave with him and go to my parents' house
Escairón , Spanje
At age 27, I leave my parents' house, afraid of relapsing, and go to Lisbon to stay with relatives
At age 27, I leave my parents' house, afraid of relapsing, and go to Lisbon to stay with relatives
Rua João de Santarém , Lisboa , Portugal
At age 28, I marry my second husband in Lisbon and my second son is born. My father buys us an apartment where we live with my children
At age 28, I marry my second husband in Lisbon and my second son is born. My father buys us an apartment where we live with my children
Lissabon , Portugal
At age 32, my third child is born, and I suffer from my husband's emotional coldness towards my first child
At age 32, my third child is born, and I suffer from my husband's emotional coldness towards my first child
Avenida António Bernardo Cabral de Macedo , Oeiras , Portugal
At age 36, I leave my husband and our two children and run away with my eldest son to my parents' house
At age 36, I leave my husband and our two children and run away with my eldest son to my parents' house
Carregado , Portugal
At age 36, my parents do not believe that I want to abandon my family for the love of my first son, and they insinuate that I am relapsing
At age 36, my parents do not believe that I want to abandon my family for the love of my first son, and they insinuate that I am relapsing
Rua Almeida Garrett , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 37, I abandon my son again to my parents and flee to the Netherlands
At age 37, I abandon my son again to my parents and flee to the Netherlands
Gasthuisring , Tilburg , the Netherlands
At age 37, I feel sad and relapse into drug use
At age 37, I feel sad and relapse into drug use
Dolomietenlaan, Zuid Tilburg , Tilburg , the Netherlands
Since age 37, I am calling my parents and my ex-husband every day to find out how my children are doing, without talking to them in person. I want them to forget me and I want to die slowly. Once, my son answers and says, »Mama, when are you coming?«
Since age 37, I am calling my parents and my ex-husband every day to find out how my children are doing, without talking to them in person. I want them to forget me and I want to die slowly. Once, my son answers and says, »Mama, when are you coming?«
Dolomietenlaan, Zuid Tilburg , Tilburg , the Netherlands
At age 38, I live in Tilburg, addicted to drugs, which I take every day at the Dienstencentrum, a supervised drug centre. Here I meet other drug addicts and join them
At age 38, I live in Tilburg, addicted to drugs, which I take every day at the Dienstencentrum, a supervised drug centre. Here I meet other drug addicts and join them
Gasthuisring , Tilburg , the Netherlands
At age 42, I am arrested and sentenced to prison at the women's prison in Breda
At age 42, I am arrested and sentenced to prison at the women's prison in Breda
Nassausingel, Breda Centrum , Breda , the Netherlands
At age 43, I experience the Dutch junkie community as a new experience and a great joy
At age 43, I experience the Dutch junkie community as a new experience and a great joy
Gasthuisring , Tilburg , the Netherlands
At age 44, I return to my parents in Portugal
At age 44, I return to my parents in Portugal
Figueira da Foz , Portugal
Since age 45, I feel at home. I rediscover my faith in God and feel rewarded with strength and confidence
Since age 45, I feel at home. I rediscover my faith in God and feel rewarded with strength and confidence
Rua Almeida Garrett , Figueira da Foz , Portugal
At age 50, I lose the person who cared for me the most: my father dies. I feel overwhelmed by grief, guilty and seek solace in drugs
At age 50, I lose the person who cared for me the most: my father dies. I feel overwhelmed by grief, guilty and seek solace in drugs
Rua Dom Francisco de Almeida , Coimbra , Portugal
Since the age of 51, on the anniversary of my father's death, I shut myself off from the world with drugs – and a bucket for my needs – and mourn alone for days on end
Since the age of 51, on the anniversary of my father's death, I shut myself off from the world with drugs – and a bucket for my needs – and mourn alone for days on end
Rua Nossa Senhora de Seiça , Portugal
When I am 53, my mother falls ill and is admitted to the hospital next to the one where I am treated for tuberculosis in an incurable condition
When I am 53, my mother falls ill and is admitted to the hospital next to the one where I am treated for tuberculosis in an incurable condition
Praceta Professor Mota Pinto, Celas , Coimbra , Portugal
At age 54, I have a near-death experience that transforms my life and, despite my guilt, I now feel love and tolerance for the people around me
At age 54, I have a near-death experience that transforms my life and, despite my guilt, I now feel love and tolerance for the people around me
Coimbra , Portugal
At age 55, my mother dies, and I suffer from guilt
At age 55, my mother dies, and I suffer from guilt
Rua Figueira da Foz , Coimbra , Portugal
At age 56, I find a new partner, and we use drugs together
At age 56, I find a new partner, and we use drugs together
Coimbra , Portugal
At age 58, we move in with my boyfriend's parents
At age 58, we move in with my boyfriend's parents
Coimbra , Portugal
At age 58, I trafficker and deal drugs until I am arrested at age 60
At age 60, in prison, I find faith in God again and become sober
At age 60, in prison, I find faith in God again and become sober
Rua Gonçalves Zarco , Santa Cruz do Bispo , Portugal
At age 62, God gives me strength and rewards me with confidence, love and hope
At age 62, God gives me strength and rewards me with confidence, love and hope
Rua Gonçalves Zarco , Santa Cruz do Bispo , Portugal

The conceptual architecture of TBDWBAJ is based on the investigation of various social spaces, isolated space, cultural space, public space and virtual space. Each of these rooms describes a phase of the project and takes on a different perspective.

THE ISOLATED SPACE

THE PUBLIC SPACE

(no the public space spaces)

THE CULTURAL SPACE

(no the cultural space spaces)