Andrés Paredes – “Trama Y Desenlace”
Argentine visual artist Andrés Paredes returned for his second Awasi Artist Immersion programme, this time staying at Awasi Atacama. Moving from the jungle into the otherworldly landscape of the Atacama Desert totally changed the nature of his work.
“The desert strips everything down to its essence. In the jungle, life is everywhere – here, you have to look more carefully to find it.” – Andrés Paredes
Paredes is known for his large-scale installations that explore the relationship between humans and their environment. His first residency at Awasi Iguazú resulted in a site-specific biodegradable sculpture made with plant fibers from the Atlantic Rainforest and developed in connection with local basketweavers. The contrast with the Atacama couldn’t have been more dramatic.
From Jungle to Desert
In Atacama, Paredes found himself working with an entirely different palette – salt, sand, volcanic rock, and the play of light across vast empty spaces. The minimalism forced by the environment pushed his work in new directions.
“In Iguazu, I was overwhelmed by the abundance of life, the constant sound, the humidity that made everything grow,” Paredes explains. “In Atacama, the silence is so complete it becomes a presence. The dryness preserves everything – I found flowers that had been dead for years but still held their form.”
New Perspectives
During his residency, Paredes created a series of watercolors using natural pigments gathered from the Atacama Desert, including minerals from the Tatio Geysers and clay from Catarpe Valley. In this way, the landscapes of Atacama became both the subject and the material of his work.
“The desert teaches patience. What seems barren at first reveals incredible complexity when you learn how to see.” – Andrés Paredes
Paredes’ time at Awasi Atacama demonstrates the value of our Artist Immersion programme, providing artists with the time, space, and inspiration to push their work in new directions while deepening their connection to the natural world.
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