Event | ‘Art + Sacrifice zone + Biopolitics: Who Has the Right to Live?’ – Activism, Performativity and Necropolitics in the Chilean Environmental Crisis

Event | ‘Art + Sacrifice zone + Biopolitics: Who Has the Right to Live?’ – Activism, Performativity and Necropolitics in the Chilean Environmental Crisis
Guest talk organised by Art and Activism research group
Date: 16 November 2023
Time: 16:00-17:30 (followed by drinks)
Location: University of Amsterdam, University Theatre, Nieuwe Doelenstraat 16, 1012 CP Amsterdam
Organizer: Sruti Bala & the Art and Activism Research Group
Moderation: Florence Evans and Martina Flores Mendeville
Contact & Registration: s.bala@uva.nl

During the last 20 years, Chilean artists have been active thinkers in reflecting on the environmental crisis in Chile and its political dimension. The “sacrifice zones” are characterized by high levels of contamination produced by the presence of heavy metals such as lead, copper and arsenic, which significantly exceed the levels recorded in other regions of the national territory. In Chile, the expression “sacrifice zone” began to designate the same idea of both, the geographical location and the communities affected by the environmental impacts, identifying the concept with the denounce of contamination in the places they inhabit. ‘Sacrifice zones” are places where the devastation has direct implications in the full exercise of the fundamental rights of people: the right to life, health, education, work, food and housing. The environmental damage has resulted in a situation of vulnerability and impoverishment of the communities. This talk will explore diverse cases studies of artistic activism as repertoire of political action in Chile, analysing cases from art, performance and music, that promote reflexion and resistance on the environmental crisis produces by the sacrifice zones.

Dr. Paulina Bronfman is a Postdoctoral Researcher of the ANILLO ANID Project “Gender, Biopolitics and Creation. Cultural and political productions of women for new forms in gender relations” at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. She hold a Master’s and a PhD in Education Studies at the University of York, United Kingdom. Her work explores the intersections between Performance, Citizenship and Cultural Studies. Dr. Bronfman is author of the book, Performance, ciudadania y activismo en Chile (Editorial Oso Liebre). Currently she is working on her second book: Scenic and performative practices as an ecological strategy in Chile, focused on environmental artistic activism, funded by the Chilean Ministry of Cult by the Chilean Ministry of Culture and Arts.