arts & ecology research residency desert 23°s · atacama, cl

DESERT 23°S: Arts & Ecology Research Residency

ATACAMA DESERT · NORTHERN CHILE

Creative practice in dialogue with land, ecologies & planetary change.

The Atacama Desert is an ethereal landscape that invites reflection on the thresholds between humanity and vast more-than-human worlds. With volcanic plains, metamorphic pools, and night skies that intertwine human existence with the cosmos, it offers a space for contemplation and invites us to rethink our relationship with the natural world. The extreme conditions of this territory challenge perceptions of life on Earth, revealing stories of resilience and coexistence in the face of environmental fragility. As one of the driest places on the planet, it faces growing threats from over-mining and unsustainable water extraction — reflecting broader narratives of environmental exploitation and planetary imbalance.

Rather than prescribing outcomes, our residency offers time and space for participants to develop their own reflective processes and creative inquiries, engaging with the place through careful observation, situated learning, and personal artistic exploration during their time here.

Residency Program

Our site-responsive residencies provide spaces for reflective artistic practice, situated research, and dialogue rooted in ecological and cultural contexts. Through independent work, guided field visits, and sessions with long-term local collaborators, participants explore diverse relationships with land, ecologies, and knowledge systems. The program fosters shared learning and supports artists and practitioners in developing thoughtful, place-based work in relation to the specific ecologies, cultures, and knowledge systems of each territory.