END OF RESIDENCY WEBZINE

I am an artist and researcher at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain). My research explores the intersections between collaborative practices and ecosocial issues in contemporary art. Parallel to the academic work, I develop artistic, pedagogical and cultural projects proposing a critical reflection on themes related to agriculture, food sovereignty and land use.

During this residency, I would like to focus on an ongoing collaborative project named L’Alter, which is currently in its early stages. The project aims to protect a fraction of the periurban orchard system that surrounds the city of Valencia (Spain), also known as horta. Despite being recognized as world agricultural heritage, this complex ecocultural system is constantly threatened by the endless expansion of urban infrastructure. In addition to promoting agroecological production, L'Alter will provide a space for strengthening community networks and promoting a direct relation between citizens and farmers. It will also include art and ecopedagogy initiatives revolving around place-based learning and radical imagination, which will be open to the public.

https://chiarasgaramella.com/

Chiara Sgaramella

A moment of realisation, change and/or disruption

The conversation with Cráter Invertido helped me understand the different nuances of the concept of Autonomía Zapatista (Zapatist autonomy) also from a cultural and artistic point of view. It was the need to detach art practice from the capitalist system while cultivating at the same time different interdpendencies and forms of solidarity with alternative communities of struggle and care.

A moment of connection

The 1-week intensive represented a moment of connection in which I could get to know the resident artists and their projects more in depth. It was very interesting to see that many of us shared similar concerns and methods in our work. Even though I couldn‘t to travel to Biella, I enjoyed the different activities, especially the group critiques.

Any tools / methods / resources to share

I would like to share a practice-based research methodology created by the collective Societat Doctor Alonso. It is described in a book entitled El desenterrador. Método para la excavación de palabras (Institut del Teatre Edicions,Barcelona, 2020). It is especially helpful to collectively examine dense or multi-layered concepts and to develop our deep listening skills. It is only available in Spanish and Catalan though.

A question you are left with

How can we incorporate self care into socially and environmentally engaged practice? How can we avoid self-exploitative processes?

Something I will carry forward

I will surely carry forward the relationships and connections that this residency allowed me to create. Collaborative work and thinking with others are practices I truly enjoy, and this programme opened up spaces to cultivate and further explore these methodologies.