It was a great pleasure to welcome Iliana Diaz Lopez onto our Artist Immersion program at the 14 villa Relais & Chateaux lodge Awasi Iguazú.
The Awasi Artist Immersion initiative was started in 2021, when we began inviting artists to stay at our three Relais & Chateaux luxury lodges to experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the surroundings and to inspire an outpouring of creativity and talent.
Iliana’s visit was an opportunity to bring her unique talents to the program; as a sound engineer and singer, her focus was different to more visual artists who have visited, but no less fascinating as a result.
The founding principle of the Awasi Artist Immersion program is that art and nature are central to the survival of the human spirit. Fittingly, Iliana is the founder of The Factory Sound, an eminent sound art and design lab inspired by nature. She has long felt a deep connection to nature and cultural heritage, being inspired by the stories told by her grandfather who lived in the foothills of the Andes.
“From a young age” she explains, “I cultivated my passion for music, sounds and a deep curiosity about the natural wonders of the universe”.
As part of her stay at Awasi Iguazú, Iliana joined forces with the Guarani community to celebrate the Ara Pyau, the Guarani New Year.
She created a live piece entitled “Portales del Ara Pyau”, meaning “New Time” – an important event marking the start of a new life cycle, signifying renewal and the profound bond between the Guarani people and nature.
Iliana was deeply moved by her close collaboration with the Guarani community, performing alongside the Guarani Yriapu community choir.
Staying at Awasi Iguazu and interacting with the Guarani was a dream come true for Iliana, who is passionate about ecology, sustainable practices, cultural traditions and heritage.
The experience enabled her “…to connect with life, ancestry, abundance, nature and the soul of being”, an immersive and moving encounter that will stay with her long after she has returned to her studio in London.
“The reality of the Guarani community teaches us to connect with the natural environment from our essence and roots” she explains, following her stay at Awasi Iguazu. “The immersion allowed me to discover new ways to communicate cosmo-visual sound narratives, while celebrating cultural diversity, nature and the knowledge gained through traditional oral storytelling”.
Iliana’s dedication to integrating art with environmental and cultural preservation continue to make a significant impact in the creative industry.
Her career has been marked by partnerships with numerous prestigious institutions and high-profile projects; it was a pleasure to host her at Awasi Iguazú, and to let the wonderful environmental and surroundings provide more inspiration for her fascinating work.