documenta fifteen received the Final Report of the Colombian Truth Commission in Kassel, Germany
For documenta fifteen, MAMA concluded the first part of its programme in July with a week dedicated to the processes of memory and truth in Colombia, in the context of the publication of the Truth Report on June 28th. The German – Colombian Peace Institute (CAPAZ), Más Arte Más Acción (MAMA), the Truth Commission (CEV) and the Germany Node of the CEV co-created a series of events with screenings, discussions and readings at the MAMA Doc Space in which dialogues, listening spaces, meetings and debates took place.
Ritual reading of the testimonial chapter of the Colombian Truth Report guided by Truth Commissioner Alejandro Castillejo and Andrés Torres
This historic moment gave us a chance to build bridges and reflect on our own and shared artistic practices with collectives and organizations from Nuquí, the Gulf of Tribugá, the Atrato River and Quibdó. From this context we explored how memory, reconciliation, activism, care and reflection could help us see a shared future.
The collaboration with CAPAZ allowed participants to explore the Colombian Truth Commission and its relationship with Germany, based on the reflections and critical positions of the Truth Commissioners alongside artists, cultural workers and researchers.
The conversation between Stefan Peters of CAPAZ, Liliana Gómez of the University of Kassel and Commissioner Leyner Palacios, moderated by Pilar Mendoza of the German Node of the Truth Commission, opened questions and reflections on the way in which each country has found ways of reconciliation and recovery of memory and also on the responsibilities of Germany with its colonial past and the current relationship with the extractivism of mineral resources and human rights violations.
Conversation Historical memory processes in Germany and Colombia with the participation of Stefan Peters, Leyner Palacios, Liliana Gomez and Pilar Mendoza. Translated by Jonathan Ospina.
In a ritual reading by Commissioner Alejandro Castillejo, fragments of the Testimonies Chapter of the Truth Report were read with a soundtrack by Andrés Torres. It transported us to the mangroves of the Colombian Pacific, a vibrant place but also a place of violence that evidences the structural racism towards Afro Colombian people.
During a walk, participants were guided to a listening session of ‘Murmullos’ a soundscape composed in collaboration with artist Andrés Torres and Alejandro Castillejo that reflects on the damage to nature and broader ecosystems caused by violence in Colombia.
Lorena Diez from the Germany Node moderated a discussion with Leyner Palacios and cultural managers Sandra Vega and Carmenza Rojas from Jóvenes Creadores del Chocó and Fundación Mareia respectively, Tthrough dance and corporal expression their work with young people and women in Quibdó and the Pacific, allows the recovery of the social fabric and the critical discussion of oppressions and structural racism.
Truth Commissioner Leyner Palacios, afro-leader of the community of Bojayá talks with cultural leaders of artistic initiatives: Sandra Vega from Jóvenes Creadores del Chocó and Carmenza Rojas from Mareia, both based in Quibdó. Conversation moderates by Lorena Diez and translated by Jonathan Ospina
CAPAZ will be part of the Summer School Extractivism and its Discontents, cultural and artistic and counter movements in September 2022, with Stefan Peters as a teacher and sponsor of the participation of Commissioner Lucía González.
We thank the German-Colombian Institute for Peace (CAPAZ) for sponsoring these encounters that amplify the efforts of Colombian people seeking peace and to continue weaving the international network that has been fundamental in this process.
