APPLY NOW
- residency
- 2023-11-13
After a one year break, we are thrilled to be announcing a new open call for our upcoming group residency in 2024!
Valley of the Possible invites all artists, designers, scholars and practitioners, (social) scientists, activists, and other thinkers and makers with an interest in ecology, Indigenous wisdom and more-than human world, for an interdisciplinary research program around the concept of the pluriverse.
Después de un año de pausa, estamos encantados de anunciar una nueva convocatoria abierta!
Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez launches her new book 'Mycelium Teachings and the Arts - Let's Become Fungal!'
- article
- 2023-06-01
Valley of the Possible team member and curator Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez is about to debut as a writer with the book 'Mycelium Teachings and the Arts - Let's Become Fungal!'.
There is a growing interest in fungi and the mycelium, the ever-branching connecting threads of the fungal world. The entanglements and how this rhizomatic network functions is not just a fascinating ecological system and material, but carries a profound usefulness as a metaphor for our poten- tial new systems, ways of thinking and behaviours.
Let’s Become Fungal! takes its inspiration from the world of art and mycology and shares innovative practices from Latin America and the Caribbean that are rooted in multispecies collaboration, symbiosis, alliances, non-monetary resource exchange, decentralization, bottom-up methods and mutual dependency—all in line with the behaviour of the mycelium.
Every chapter is phrased as a question. They do not lead to answers, but to twelve teachings addressing for instance collaboration, decoloniality, non-linearity, toxicity, mobilization, biomimicry, death, and being non-binary. Simulta- neously it ventures deeper into the world of fungi. The teachings from the fungus may inspire artists, collectives, organizations, educators, policy-makers, designers, scientists, anthropologists, changemakers, curators, urbanists, activists, gardeners, community-leaders, farmers, and many others, to become more fungal in their ways of working and being.
Inspired by conversations with (amongst others):
Francisca Álvarez Sánchez, Carolina Caycedo, Binna Choi, Annalee Davis, Maya Errázuriz,
Juan Ferrer, Lilian Fraiji, Giuliana Furci, Sofía Gallisá Muriente, Yina Jiménez Suriel, Patricia Kaishian, Anne Kervers, Mirla Klijn & Olaf Boswijk, Lola Malavasi & Daniela Morales Lisac, Maria Paola Malavasi Lachner, Martina Manterola & Carmen Serra, Camila Marambio, Mariana Martínez Balvanera, Claudia Martínez Garay, Valeria Mata, Lina Meija & Luciana Fleischman, Vera Meyer, Tomaz Morgado Françozo & Marília, Marjon Neumann, Maria Alice Neves, Sina Ribak, Tara Rodríguez Besosa, Raquel Rosenberg,
Juli Simon, Ela Spalding, Gianine Tabja, Gabriela Flores del Pozo & Lucia Monge, Fer Walüng, Tatyana Zambrano.
Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez works as curator and researcher on art and ecology, and is based in Mexico-City. She founded and directed many international initiatives at the intersection of
art and ecology, including the Green Art Lab Alliance (Asia, Latin America and Europe) and the Nature Research Department, the Van Eyck Food Lab, and the Future Materials Bank at the Jan van Eyck Academie (NL).
Francisca Silva is our next artist-in-residence this winter
- residency
- 2023-05-25
Francisca Silva (Chile) will be artist-in-residence during our first self-directed winter residency throughout June and July.
Francisca is a Chilean filmmaker and new media artist who has cultivated the art of visual storytelling, embarking on a multidisciplinary journey that includes photography, research, screenwriting, filmmaking (fiction, non-fiction, essay films, and music videos) and dramaturgy. Her transmedia spirit has led her to co-found Galgo Storytelling, a creative laboratory dedicated to use technology for storytelling, with the collective statement “We go to the future, looking at our origins”. She currently works on virtual reality and mixed reality, multidisciplinary and collaborative projects that blend indigenous knowledge, science, and technology, aiming to raise awareness about the human relationship with nature.
During her residency she will be working on 'Knowing Your Nature', a collaborative and multidisciplinary project in mixed reality: an immersive and meditative experience in virtual replicas of different forests and micro-forests in southern Chile. Inspired by the forest baths, this experience uses technology as a mental health tool to combat mental disorders such as anxiety and stress. Through the creation of a series of exercises in the forest, the practitioner moves towards a state of wellbeing.
Mapuche Philospher Milton Almonacid in residence at Kunstfort
- residency
- 2023-05-24
In light of our ongoing cultural exchange with Kunstfort in the Netherlands, we are excited to share that Mapuche philosopher and long time Valley of the Possible guest speaker Milton Almonacid will be in residence at Kunstfort in the Netherlands during June and July 2023.
Milton Almonacid (Chile) is a philosopher of science, cultural and technology studies from Copenhagen University. His fields of interest are epistemology of sciences, decolonization of knowledge and mind, whiteness studies, indigenous epistemologies, non-western global narratives and intercultural translation, amongst others. Milton holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, Philosophy, and Psychoanalysis focused on the study of social movements in Chile, the construction of the legitimacy of scientific thought, as well as Mapuche contents excluded from the social identity of Chilean society.
Since 2012 he has been partly living in Denmark where he has completed a Master in ‘Global Studies and Cultural Encounters’, with a focus on the global dynamics of interculturality and the logic of exclusion and marginalization of Indigenous wisdom in the production of global knowledge.
Valley of the Possible aims to work in a reciprocal way and foster artistic exchange between the Global South and the Global North. Therefore we not only work on organizing residencies in Chile, but also invite Chilean and Indigenous artists and thinkers to the Netherlands once a year. We have always felt the artistic vision of Kunstfort in the Netherlands matches and compliments that of Valley of the Possible, so plans for an exchange arose. Artists from Chile would stay on the Fort Island for a period of time in order to further develop their practice in the Netherlands. Last year the exchange started with Seba Calfuqueo (they/them) as the first resident visiting Kunstfort.
Introducing our new board members
- article
- 2023-05-24
After considering beautiful applications, we are very excited to announce our two new board members: Alessandra Caine and Eduardo Ayala Fuentes.
Alessandra Caine, she/her/ella (IT/ NL)
With almost 10 years of experience in managing international sustainability programs worldwide, Alessandra’s mission is to restore ecosystems by supporting businesses in reducing their ecological footprint and increasing their positive impact on people and planet. Alessandra worked as a program manager for the Commonland Foundation for many years (developing regenerative business models that would restore degraded landscapes while at the same time create economic prosperity, social and ecological wellbeing) and is now active as sustainability consultant. Last year she started as one of the Toniic Community Managers (the global action community for impact investors, with members in over 26 countries), accompanying investors in their journey towards a holistic and impactful use of their capital, where social and environmental benefits are accomplished without sacrificing financial returns. Alessandra is originally from Italy and lives in Amsterdam.
Eduardo Ayala Fuentes, he/him/his/él, (CL/USA).
Throughout his career, Eduardo has been dedicated to working in diverse, culturally-specific, and community-driven cultural and civic spaces. For over ten years, he has supported educational and cultural institutions through periods of mission evolution and leadership transition. Much of this work has been situated within the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities across New York City. Last year Eduardo was appointed the new Director of Development at the Queens Museum, NY. Before that he worked at Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, managing the government and foundation grant funding of the High Line and overseeing institutional advancement of El Museo del Barrio. Eduardo is originally from Chile and now lives in New York. Image Credit @tomstoelker
We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our leaving board members; Sarah van Overeem, Astrid Vargas. Thank you for all your energy and wisdom you brought into Valley of the Possible. We love you dearly.
Welcoming our third group of residents
- residency
- 2022-10-17
On Friday November 4th, we start our second edition of the BLACK EARTH 'cultivating reciprocity' immersive residency program. With great pleasure, we announce our participants.
Andrea Galano (Chile/Spain)
Transdisciplinary artist focusing on speculative storytelling and collaborative work. Andrea is interested in how site-specific work can emerge from a feeling of displacement, touching on topics of animism, extractivism, ecology and magic. Her work tells stories through the exploration of traces which she materializes in objects, monuments, land, fungi, sand and water, finding form in video installations and publications. Andrea's residency is generously supported by Museo del Hongo.
Kyra Sacks (Netherlands)
Visual artist and social anthropologist integrating art and social science in a way that makes pressing issues tangible. In the largely textual world of social science, Kyra explores how art can speak to a wider audience. She has been involved in artistic research projects, engaging with the corporate and public sector, using mixed media such as visual essays, installations and deep mapping.
Roberta Esposito (Italy)
Artist and designer who’s currently exploring the potential of collective practices aimed to restore a deeper relationship with the Earth and its ecosystems. She focusses on alternative ways of communication through archetypal symbolism and poetic acts. She is attending MA Ecology Futures at the Master Institute of Visual Culture (NL).
Sandra Méndez (Colombia)
Designer, artist and activist who constantly questions how design and visual culture perpetuate exploitative values and oppressive stereotypes. She proposes ways to change this through language and its materiality, exploring new forms of connection, care and reciprocity with one's body and the more-than-human world. Her practice blends design, photography, imagination, spirituality, bodies and food.
Simon Handy (UK)
Artist, agroforester and social-ecological systems theorist, specialised in cultural aspects of transformative capacity. Simon comes from a regenerative farming background and has worked as a low-impact forester, and community woodland manager. His work tends to draw on traditional and contemporary rural beliefs and practices, social-ecological research, and experiences of working in contested spheres of environmental management.
Learning to be Earth (Aprendiendo de ser Tierra)
- residency
- 2022-06-01
Valley of the Possible commissioned visual artist and illustrator Francisca Álvarez Sánchez to reflect on the days she spent with us during the BLACK EARTH 'cultivating biodiversity' research and residency program. The result is this stunning illustration ‘Aprendiendo de ser Tierra (Learning to be Earth)' which was gifted to each resident upon their departure. It comes with the following poem:
‘Todo comenzó en el negro más absoluto
Luego llegó el agua a despertar la vida
La luna roja alumbró la noche negra.
El lucero del amanecer nos guía
Un micelio nos une
Somos piedras aprendiendo a ser tierra.
Nos re encontramos en el pewma
Siendo ese círculo de piedras reunidas
Cantando en una lengua inentendible para la mente
Tan clara para el corazón.
🖤
‘It all began in pitch black
Then came the water to awaken life
The red moon lit up the black night.
The morning star guides us
A mycelium unites us
We are stones learning to be Earth.
We meet again in the pewma
Being that circle of stones gathered together
Singing in a language unintelligible to the mind
So clear to the heart.’
🖤
This is a heartfelt thank you to all our participants, team members, guest speakers, visiting artists and curators, and to our neighbours and community members for making BLACK EARTH 2022 happen. You are all an example of how we make loving kinship with the natural world, ourselves and eachother. May it be the beginning of new cycles, continued relationships and many ‘poto hours’. We love you all dearly! Love, Valley of the Possible.
Suelo - A botanical walk with Alimento Silvestre
- presentation
- 2022-04-11
At a hyper local level, Valley of the Possible is embarking on its first steps as a community driven project, organising workshops and talks that aim to strengthen social cohesion and this community's ties to nature.
In a first attempt to create networks between new and old community members, we will be organising our first public workshop on Saturday the 16th of April. Hosted by Miquel Moya aka Alimento Silvestrewe will enter the surrounding native forests, to observe, search and harvest wild edible foods, followed by a collectively prepared lunch in which we share both the harvest and our stories about this valley and how we each arrived here.
This and future activities are based and inspired by 'Suelo', a methodology developed by Estudio Nebuso founder Ela Spalding. Suelo is a methodology that uses the concept, metaphor and materiality of soil as sustenance, home, land, and territory to re-articulate the natural and cultural value of a selected location, leading into a practice of collective worlding and imagining of regenerative futures.
Sebástian Calfuqueo in residence at Kunstfort in the Netherlands
- residency
- 2022-04-07
Valley of the Possible aims to work in a reciprocal way and foster artistic exchange between the Global South and the Global North. Therefore we not only work on organizing residencies in Chile, but will also invite Chilean and Indigenous artists to the Netherlands once a year.
We have always felt the artistic vision of Kunstfort in the Netherlands matches and compliments that of Valley of the Possible, so plans for an exchange arose. Artists from Chile would stay on the Fort Island for a period of time in order to further develop their practice in the Netherlands. This year the exchange starts with Seba Calfuqueo (they/them) as the first resident who will be visiting Kunstfort. Between 26 November and 4 December for a preliminary inspiration and research week, followed by an extended residency in 2023. Seba is an emerging non-binary Mapuche artist whose practice, through interventions and performances, proposes a critical reflection on the social, cultural and political status of the Mapuche subject within current Chilean and Latin American society. Their work aims to explore both cultural similarities and differences and the stereotypes that arise at the crossroads between Indigenous and westernized modes of thought, as well as making visible issues of feminism and sexual dissidence.
Read more about Seba's groundbreaking work in this article by Serpentine Galleries and this one by MoMA.
This residency is kindly supported by WePresent. Unexpected stories about creativity, told by WeTransfer.
Photo: Sebastián Calfuqueo by Diego Argote
Welcoming our second group of participants
- residency
- 2022-04-01
We are very excited to present the group of selected participants for our research program 2022 BLACK EARTH.
Esther Lu (TW) - contemporary art curator and writer based in Taipei, Taiwan. Her research focus has been circling around feminist new materialism theory, ecofeminism, post-Anthropocene society, queer theory and institutional critique. Many of her projects focus on interplays of sensibility, body, institution and memory, and how art exceeds our imagination to address humanity, culture and relevances of life.
Femke Veeman (NL)- a cultural program maker, educator and curator from Amsterdam. She has developed programs for various cultural institutions, in the fields of visual arts and talent development, currently for the National Museum of World Cultures in the Netherlands. She is interested in the relationship between resilient ecosystems and resilient cultures, and the role cultural institutions can play in times of social and environmental injustices.
Fer Walüng (CL)- director of Wallmapu Seeds and Fungi Huerta and completely dedicated to the safeguarding of traditional seeds, the cultivation and regenerative collection of edible and medicinal mushrooms and fungiculture. Through revitalisation of Mapuche knowledge and agroecology she develops multimedia projects.
Marit Mihklepp (EST/NL) - an Estonian artist based in The Hague, speculating on possibilities of communication between humans and other-than-humans. With participatory experiences, microbial perfumes and scripted interventions she is mapping collaborative practices with trees, bacteria and everyday objects.
Nicolás Amaro (CL) - is a photographer who mostly portrays landscapes and cultures and is specifically fascinated by rural communities. He seeks to deconstruct our notions of nature, blur the distinctions that limit our understanding in how we differentiate between natural and artificial, nature and culture, the living and the inert.
Paz Gonzáles (CL) - landscape architect and poet who studies language and its etymologies, through the collection of words and the subsequent construction of poetic dictionaries, making visible the beauty and wisdom in their meanings.
Kunstfort interviews founders Olaf and Mirla
- article
- 2022-06-28
In light of our new collaboration with Kunstfort in the Netherlands, Kunstfort interviewed Valley of the Possible founders Olaf Boswijk and Mirla Klijn about the origins of this collaboration, what's going on with their project and what's up next. Read the interview here (Dutch only).
An overview of outcomes
- article
- 2020-12-03
At Valley of the Possible, we do not ask specific results from our participants nor do we believe in current narratives that often dictate we have to 'strive for impact'. We believe that if we are mindful of all the processes and circumstances intimately related to our residency programs and other activities, and if we take utmost care of all our relationships with reciprocity as our guiding principle, the results often exceed our wildest imagination. In other words: if we as an organisation practice ecological thinking, valuing relationships and interconnectedness in everything we do, the results, whatever they may be, will follow. In a world where everything is connected, it's unthinkable to not have an impact.
Since our first residency program took place early 2019, several of our alumni have continued to develop projects and works, some of which were conceived or further developed during their stay at Valley of the Possible. Below we highlight some of their most notable works and research projects.
Dutch visual artist and designer Xandra van der Eijk went on to develop the master's programme Ecology Futures at the St Joost School of Art & Design in Den Bosch, Netherlands. It focusses on how art and design can help define and change the narrative around today's anthropocentric worldview. The course includes the module Decolonizing Ecology Futures which features Mapuche philosopher Milton Almonacid and environmental sociologist Darko Lagunas. Milton, Xandra and Darko all met at Valley of the Possible in 2019.
Dutch media artist, designer and researcher Mark IJzerman had started to study southern Chile with help of sattelite data before his arrival to Valley of the Possible. His work culminated into 'As Above, So Below', an audio-visual performance, alongside French sound artist Sébastien Robert, that explores the changing landscape (due to deforestation) of La Araucanía through live visuals and sound. It was performed live by the duo during Rewire X Korzo festival in The Hague, Netherlands. See here for an in-depth feature with both Mark and Sébastien. Mark is also practice tutor at the aforementioned Ecology Futures master program, in the module Cartographies of the Vanishing Now, an ongoing research program that explores the potential of sensory art and alternative cartographic methods to remap reality in the age of environmental collapse.
Meanwhile French sound artist and researcher Sébastien Robert graduated from the Royal Academy of Art The Hague and won the Master Award of the ArtScience faculty. 'Rite Of Passage' is Sébastien Robert's newest installation. Initiated during his stay at Valley of the Possible, this project studies the influence of the Kultrun - a Mapuche drum - on the crystallisation of the Araucaria Araucana’s resin – an ancient tree sacred to the Mapuche and considered as living fossil – and explores the possibilities of preserving its ancestral rhythms in that medium.
Chilean designer and curator Juan Ferrer, director of Museo del Hongo (Fungi Museum), questions disciplinary boundaries by proposing new concepts in scientific engagement through artistic, immersive, and interactive experiences in a museum space. Museo del Hongo is an unconventional museum space dedicated to resignify the Fungi Kingdom. This year Museo del Hongo curated 'A Fungus Garden', an online exhibition as part of the Austrian digital arts festival Ars Electronica. A selection of their videos and performances can be seen on YouTube.
Dutch-Chilean environmental sociologist and researcher Darko Lagunas León, ended the year with the presentation of 'Voices of the North Sea': a research project aims at the representation of indigenous narratives of humans and non-humans in and around the North Sea and Zeeland, the Netherlands. His research, showing a more artistic side of Darko, was presented as 4 short films and was commissioned by the Embassy of the North Sea, part of Parliament of Things (iniated by French philosopher Bruno Latour). Earlier he co-developed with Milton Almonacid and Xandra van der Eijk the Decolonizing Ecology Futures module, part of the Ecology Futures at the St Joost School of Art & Design in Breda, Netherlands. Together with Valley of the Possible, he has initiated the 'Pewen Project': a research project (funded by WWF Inno Fund) that develops a convivial (literally: ‘living with’) conservation plan for the Araucaria araucana (Pewen) trees, based on indigenous Mapuche Pewenche knowledge, and their symbiotic relation with the Pewen trees. Artworks express this knowledge and relation, and function as a bridge between relevant stakeholders’ worldviews, and mediation tool during cultural frictions. In the meantime Darko continues to write articles and regularly acts as public speaker on topics such as non-western narratives, decolonization and rights of nature.
Last, but certainly not least, Nathaniel Popkin is a recognized writer and editor of fiction, non-fiction, film, criticism, and journalism from the US, who participated in our pilot program early 2019. He recently published his new book 'To Reach The Spring: From Complicity to Consciousness in the Age of Eco-Crisis', an urgent and deeply felt call to face our complicity in the earth’s destruction. In the shadow of an escalating eco-crisis—a looming catastrophe that will dwarf the fallout from COVID-19—how can we explain our society’s failure to act? What will we tell future generations? Are we paralyzed because the problem is so vast in scope, or are there deeper reasons for the widespread passivity? Nathaniel Popkin explores the moral, social, and psychological dimensions of the crisis, outlining a path to a future spring. 'To Reach The Spring' was partly conceived and edited during Nathaniel's stay at Valley of the Possible and the cover photo was also shot in the valley. The book was published late 2020 and is widely available online and wherever they sell books.
VOTP joins Green Art Lab Alliance
- article
- 2020-11-30
We have recently become an official member of the Green Art Lab Alliance: an informal, international network of art organisations contributing to environmental sustainability through their creative practice.
In gala's own words:
Planetary health has reached its tipping point. We established our alliance as a way to amplify the voices of artists and art organisations responding to the various social and environmental issues that are a result of this. We act as a ‘knowledge alliance’; strategically sharing resources, information and solidarity. Since 2013 we have grown with partners in Europe, Asia and Latin-America. Our alliance connects and empowers art centres, museums, residencies, art collectives, activists and grassroots initiatives that are strongly embedded in their local communities. Though some are big and others small, what we have in common is that we all perceive the arts as a powerful resource for social and environmental justice. We are all committed to our co-written Manifesto and act according to our Objectives.
Gala was founded by Yasmine Ostendorf, who is also active as associate curator at Valley of the Possible and a member of our selection committee.
Nathaniel Popkin's new book 'To Reach The Spring'
- article
- 2020-12-01
Nathaniel Popkin (1970) is a recognized writer and editor of fiction, non-fiction, film, criticism, and journalism from the US, who participated in our pilot program early 2019.
He has just published his new book 'To Reach The Spring: From Complicity to Consciousness in the Age of Eco-Crisis', an urgent and deeply felt call to face our complicity in the earth’s destruction.
In the shadow of an escalating eco-crisis—a looming catastrophe that will dwarf the fallout from COVID-19—how can we explain our society’s failure to act? What will we tell future generations? Are we paralyzed because the problem is so vast in scope, or are there deeper reasons for the widespread passivity? Nathaniel Popkin explores the moral, social, and psychological dimensions of the crisis, outlining a path to a future spring.
'To Reach The Spring' was partly conceived and edited during Nathaniel's stay at Valley of the Possible and the cover photo was also shot in the valley. The book was published late 2020 and is widely available online and wherever they sell books.
Support by WePresent
- residency
- 2020-03-23
The international digital arts and culture platform WePresent (the editorial platform of WeTransfer) is supporting Valley of the Possible with our BLACK EARTH residency program. A very courageous act in these times, also in light of the unfortunate postponement of the program. Their support enables us to greatly lower the fees for our three Chilean participants, who have less access and chances for funding. Furthermore it helps us to create a higher quality program and supports our mission to build sustainable and long-term relationships with our local partners and guest speakers. To say we are very grateful is an understatement, as this not only generates more equal and fair possibilities for everyone involved, it also gives us courage to continue with this program in the future!
top 10 Most Exciting Art/Sustainability Initiatives in Chile
- article
- 2020-02-06
In an article recently published on Artists and Climate Change we were mentioned as one of the top 10 Most Exciting Art/Sustainability Initiatives in Chile, together with our friends from Fundación Mar Adentro and Museo del Hongo.
Interview founders
- article
- 2020-02-28
'Point your actions in the direction of your values and dreams, in service of the better world we all know is possible.’
Valley of the Possible founders Mirla & Olaf speak about their mission in an extensive interview with Design Decode (a platform that 'brings together multiple voices from within design culture to experiment with, explore, and expand the living landscape of new possibilities united by the principles of Real Design.’)
SITUATION IN CHILE
- article
- 2019-11-12
In light of the current political and social crisis in Chile, we have written a brief statement in which we try to describe what is going on in Chile and we offer our advice to anyone who is considering to travel to Chile.
'What started as a student protest in Santiago on Friday the 18th of October, after a sudden rise of metro fares, has turned into a tsunami of unrest in which millions of Chileans have joined peaceful marches calling for an overhaul of the country’s economic and social model. Now well into it’s fourth week, there are still regular demonstrations, strikes and roadblocks in Santiago and most other big cities around the country.' READ FULL STATEMENT
Additionally we recommend reading a statement from activist, writer and one of Chilean's most famous artists Cecilia Vicuña.
Valley of the Possible welcomes three additional members to the board
- article
We are happy to announce that Beatriz Salinas Marambio, curator and previous director of the National Centre of Contemporary Art in Santiago (Cerrillos), has been appointed as new Chair of the board. Current Chair Maria Tuerlings will continue as Secretary of the board.
We also welcome Chris Julien, research director of Waag Society, guest lecturer Critical Studies at Sandberg Institute and spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion NL. With an extensive background in science and community engagement, and currently working as project officer at EUSEA (European Science Engagement Association) in Germany, we are excited to share that Andrea Troncoso Quilaqueo is the latest addition to our board.
We are confident that with all this added wisdom, talent and experience, Valley of the Possible will continue to grow as mycelia and adapt and respond to current and future developments in the worlds of arts, science, ecology and Indigenous cultures.
podcast with founder Olaf Boswijk
- presentation
- 2019-10-07
Founder Olaf Boswijk was invited by ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) Green for a talk as part of a podcast called ‘Terug naar de Natuur’ (Back to Nature), in conjunction with Sublime FM and Club Groeneveld.
The conversation touches upon topics as how landscapes shape identity and culture, how not to go back to nature but forward towards it and how intuition almost always shows you the right way. “We live in a time where we need to look the beast in the eye. And, however daunting or difficult that is, we need to create new ways of living. We need to create different stories of what it is to be human.”
Listen to it on Spotify or via or the iTunes Podcast App
Valley of the Possible receives funding from the WWF INNO Fund!
- article
For the research and development of the project 'Bridging worldviews for the conservation of Araucarias' - an inclusive conservation model for the ancient and sacred Araucaria Araucana tree, we have received support from the WWF Netherlands INNO Fund that stimulates global innovative conservation projects.
The aim of this project is to bridge diverse worldviews and develop an inclusive conservation action plan for the ancient and sacred Araucaria (Pehuen) trees in La Araucanía in Southern Chile. Valley of the Possible will initiate and host intercultural dialogues, where diverse stakeholders collaborate and unite to develop an on the ground action plan for the araucarias, providing a platform where heterogeneous (indigenous, ancestral, modern and universal) knowledges come together.
REVISTA ENDEMICO INTERVIEWED THREE OF OUR FIRST PARTICIPANTS
- article
- 2019-07-30
Revista Endemico, a Chilean virtual platform and annual publication that focuses on the connection between culture and nature, did a large feature about Valley of the Possible for which they interviewed three of our participants just after our pilot program in May 2019. Revista Endemico spoke to bio-art designer Xandra van der Eijk, multimedia artist Mark IJzerman and writer Nathaniel Popkin about their work and individual research projects. The interviews are all published and can be found here:
The Exploration of a Multiform Space
- article
- 2019-06-27
The Catholic University of Temuco (CL), Cookies (NL) and Valley of the Possible (CL/NL) are starting a joint preliminary study into the design of a shared space for artistic development: an inclusive space that does justice to the qualities, history and (indigenous) traditions of this region, where international artists, scientists and creatives can work side by side with the local community and students of the university.
The final phase of this study consists of the organisation of public programmes in both Chile and The Netherlands to present the results. The ultimate goal of the project is the realisation of this space, which will be partially built by the students of the FAAD, community members and participants in Valley of the Possible.
The Exploration of a Multiform Space project is kindly supported by Creative Industries Fund NL
Welcoming our first participants to 'Possibility of a Valley'
- residency
- 2019-03-22
We are thrilled to welcome our first group of participants to the Cañon del Blanco valley in southern Chile! This pilot program is designed to explore what are the cultural, historical and ecological layers of our remote valley, and allows artists time and space to reflect on their individual projects and research. In addition, workshops, guest lectures and excursions are designed to investigate role and the potential future of the residency. We are so grateful for everyone’s support in making this refugio for art & research a reality, and can’t wait to share what new ideas, insights and challenges result from this first program.
Pilot program comes to an end
- residency
- 2019-05-27
We are thrilled to have been able to welcome our first group to the Cañon del Blanco valley in Chile! Our pilot program 'Possibility of a Valley' was designed to explore the various historical, cultural, social and ecological layers of the valley and surrounding region and allowed the participants space to reflect on their individual projects and develop research. In addition, workshops, guest lectures and excursions were designed to investigate the potential future of the residency. We are so grateful for everyone’s support in making this residency a reality, and can’t wait to share future outcomes from this beautiful and intense month.
Please visit our Instagram for the most recent updates.
Valley of the Possible visits Catholic University of Temuco
- presentation
- 2019-03-21
Valley of the Possible will be visiting Universidad Católica in Temuco on Wednesday May 20th. Four of our participants (Sébastien Robert, Mark IJzerman, Nathaniel Popkin and Juan Ferrer) will be presenting their work and individual research projects for students of the Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design. Valley of the Possible founders Mirla Klijn and Olaf Boswijk will do a short introduction aswell. Everyone is welcome to join.
Event info:
Wednesday May 15th at 15.00
Auditorio Cincuentenario
Campus San Juan Pablo II
Temuco
Admission is free and open to the public