Entre Nubes

Entre Nubes is a sensory and artistic exploration of the San Germán barrio, an illegal settlement in southeast Bogotá, and its inhabitants. This project is a dialogue among theater, photography and psychomagic that reveals San German from the intimacy of its people, dismantling stereotypes around in

"Entre Nubes" is a sensory and artistic exploration of San Germán, an informal neighborhood in southeast Bogotá, and about the life and soul of its inhabitants, the majority of which have migrated from rural parts from all the different regions in the country, fleeing violence or searching for better living conditions. This makes San Germán a microcosm of vulnerable populations, where victims of the armed conflict, ex-military, ex-guerrilla, native peoples, afro peoples and economically displaced families from within Bogotá converge, revealing testimonies from Colombia’s complicated story.

Many neighborhoods in the south of Bogotá were initially self-established until their eventual legalization. San German is a living testament of this, and its residents strive for more dignified conditions under precarious circumstances.  Living in an "invasion" neighborhood implies living in a marginal Bogotá. In this Bogotá, land is constantly disputed, the police don't arrive and violence is often the first choice in conflict resolution. Nevertheless, people here are resilient and determined to build a better future for themselves.

I am currently trying to fund the second stage of this project. For two months we will be conducting an intensive art and theater workshop in the neighborhood, as well as Entre Nubes, the natural reserve that surrounds it. Throughout the meetings, we will reflect on memory, territory, and identity. During the entire process, we will be collecting audio, video and still photography. At the close of the workshops, we will edit and assemble the material in order to produce an audiovisual installation for the public to interact with and a collective play. The work team will be composed of a theater director (David Ardila), in charge of the work, an art director (Carolina Fernández), who will also be in charge of recording video, and by myself, in charge of directing the narrative audiovisual. The objective of the installation and theatre play is to invite contemplation over the territory that San German occupies, strengthen the bonds between community members, and offer a sounding platform for people who are routinely in a position of disadvantage. Lastly, the installation and theatre play function as a vehicle for self-knowledge; it is meant to provoke a deeper mental and psychic awareness of those who partake in the process. The entirety of the project will be held over a two month period, with workshops happening three times a week during the first month and a half. The last two weeks will be focused on final rehearsals and setting up the installation.