In the pursuit of progress, industrial development is promoted to the detriment of many of our rivers and waterways. But the separation of human health from other forms of life is a harmful binary that ultimately threatens our environment. Live Streams explores the permeations – rather than the separations – of human and liquid lives by bringing together artworks from the Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA) and entre—ríos, a research project exploring ecological wellbeing from the arts.
This exhibition explores the human impact on rivers and waterways, while also focusing specifically on the body by recognising it as the first interface for us to establish more ethical relations with others and drawing attention to the interdependency of ecosystem and human health.
Showcasing the work of emerging and established artists, Live Streams includes film, photography, painting and installation from ESCALA by María Elvira Escallón, Martha Niklaus, Teresa Pereda, Alejandro Jaime, Alberto Baraya and Cinthya Soto, alongside entre—ríos artists Eulalia de Valdenebro, Genietta Varsi, Leonel Vasquez and Emilio Chapela. The work of artists Tania Candiani, Alejandra Ortiz de Zevallos, Jorge Clavijo & Diego Piñeros García and Calderón & Piñeros is explored through our public programme.
Lives Streams is guest curated by entre—ríos: Dr Lisa Blackmore (School of Philosophy & Art History and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Essex), Diego Chocano (Assistant Curator of ESCALA/University Art Collections) and Emilio Chapela (Artist and Research Assistant).
entre—ríos is a Global Challenges Research Fund project. Click here to find out more.
Image credit: Eulalia de Valdenebro, Cuerpopermeable IX: Laguna /Permeable body IX: Lake, 2021 (detail)
