On May 30, 2024, CitiesToBe by Anteverti, together with Manifesta Biennial, hosted “City: to look is to invent” in Barcelona.

Set in the former Gustavo Gili publishing house — one of the main venues of Manifesta 15 — the event brought together photography, architecture and urban thought in a focused, after-office format.

The evening opened with a conversation featuring photographers Jordi Bernadó and Roger Grasas, architect Josep Bohigas, and Anteverti’s CEO and CitiesToBe co-founder, Cristina Garrido.

Across disciplines, they reflected on the act of looking as a way of engaging with the city—not only to document it, but to interpret, question, and construct its narratives. Photography emerged as both a tool and a position: a way of navigating urban complexity through attention, framing, and intention.

The talk was followed by a gathering around the exhibition of the finalist images from the CitiesToBe Photo Award 2023. Displayed in the courtyard, the selection offered a fragmented yet coherent portrait of contemporary urban life — from intimate moments to broader territorial landscapes — revealing the many ways cities can be seen, experienced and told.

More than a programme, the event functioned as a meeting point. A moment to connect a local ecosystem linked to cities, image-making and culture, in an informal setting that extended the conversation beyond the stage.

Continue exploring the CitiesToBe Photo Award, Anteverti's international photography competition on urban complexity, on its dedicated website.