The group show “Tiempo de Siembra” (sowing time), curated by BPA// participant Simon Speiser, brings together various positions from the contemporary Ecuadorian art world that work at the intersection of nature and technology.
In 2009 during the reformation of the Ecuadorian constitution, the Andean concept “Sumac Kawsay” was introduced, commonly translated as “well-living”, the term signifies a departure from Western socialist theory, embracing ancestral, communitarian knowledge and the culture of the Quechua people. It called for nature to be recognised with rights, akin to human beings. Unfortunately many of these ideas did not materialise into action. However, the recent referendum in 2023 saw an astounding majority of the Ecuadorian population opposing oil exploitation in the Amazon, during times of crisis. This underscores a consistent understanding for the importance of reconciling contemporary life with the environment.
This resonance is strongly reflected in the work of many Ecuadorian artists, with some shedding light on the exploitation of the natural resources, its technologies and their environmental impacts. Others analyse a spectrum of technologies, from indigenous technologies to our present digital worlds and speculative technologies, in search for a symbiotic coexistence.