Encounters of Art/Ecology in Chile: A Current Radiography of Actors

©Sara Olivia Fuentes

The study, besides demonstrating numerous art-science-ecology experiences, is an invitation to think deeply about the relevance of interdisciplinary methods to promote an environmental culture in Chile. The research was conducted by an interdisciplinary team from University of Bristol, the University of Alberto Hurtado (UAH), the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB), and the Millennium Institute of Coastal Socio-Ecology (SECOS), with support from Fundación Mar Adentro.

Their research methodology considered a mapping of more than one hundred organizations working in arts, crafts, science and ecology, as well as interviews with  key actors   who contributed with their experiences and testimonies on the challenges and difficulties they face when creating interdisciplinary projects. 

The initial results, along with a series of recommendations from the study, will be presented at both events. The first,  “The Integration of Artistic and Scientific Practices in the Generation of Knowledge About Nature in Crisis” seeks to allow various actors from the ministries of science, culture, and education of Chile to come together, along with deans and academics from different universities of Santiago. It will take place on July 26th at 11 a.m. at Palacio Palacio Pereira (Huérfanos 1515) and will benefit from the presence of the researchers, who will discuss the main findings of the study as well as opportunities in the field of art and ecology for Chile.

The second event, which is open to the public, will take place on Thursday, July 28th, at 7 p.m. at the Extension Center of the National Institute, also known as CEINA (Arturo Prat 33), under the name “Poligonal Nº3: Dialogue on  Art, Science, and Ecology in Chile.” In addition to a dialogue with the entire research team, the video exhibition “Polygonal Forest” will be shown, an exhibition which was first presented in a digital format for the 2021 Ars Electronica Festival will now be presented in this space with works by  artists Claudia Müller, Elisa Balmaceda, Marcos Sánchez, and Gregorio Fontén. Poligonal Nº3 will also count with the presence of  Revista Endémico and Librería Libro Verde, who will have stands with a selection of their publications.

©Ugo Carmeni

“To address the climate and biodiversity crisis, as well as other environmental challenges, we need to recognize the facts, but we also need to be able to tell an attractive and inclusive story about the future. This is the reason why  collaborations between art and science can be an extremely useful tool, because they can combine scientific knowledge with creative methods that speak to the heart as well as the mind. Furthermore, these collaborative projects often involve diverse communities that can feel excluded from traditional forms of exchanging knowledge,” assures Paul Merchant, from University of Bristol, who coordinated the research team.

About the Researchers:

Fernanda Oyarzún, PhD. Associate Researcher at Instituto Milenio SECOS. Co-Director of Bienal Concepción, Arte y Ciencia
Carla Pinochet, PhD. Professor in Department of Anthropology, Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Nélida Pohl, PhD. Head of scientific dissemination, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB-Chile)
Catalina Valdés, PhD. Professor in Department of Art at Universidad Alberto Hurtado: 
Paul Merchant, PhD. Senior Lecturer in Latin American Film and Visual Culture, University of Bristol                              

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by funds from Research England and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.