Awasi Artist Immersion – Andrés Paredes
Argentine visual artist Andrés Paredes returned for his second Awasi Artist Immersion programme, this time staying at the 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 Iguazu resulted in a series of works incorporating organic materials from the rainforest. The contrast with the Atacama couldn’t have been more dramatic.
From Jungle to Desert
In the 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 the 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 ephemeral installations in the desert, documented through photography and video. These works, which incorporated mirrors, salt crystals, and found objects, explored themes of reflection, preservation, and the passage of geological time.
“The desert teaches patience. What seems barren at first reveals incredible complexity when you learn how to see.” – Andrés Paredes
One of his most striking pieces involved placing mirrors at various points in the landscape, creating illusions that challenged viewers’ perception of space and reality. As the sun moved across the sky, the reflections changed, making each viewing a unique experience.
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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