Component 2, Artistic Residencies in an Indigenous Village: Research Process

Artistic Residencies in an Indigenous Village: establishing a residency programme for non-indigenous artists in the Kuikuro villages of the Xingu indigenous territories (Brazil) and its creative outcomes.

LINK TO OVERALL INVESTIGATION ON RETHINKING MODELS OF INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT: in Component Two HERITAGE looked to build on the long-term relationship and exchange established between MCBURNEY and TAKUMÃ, and explore how the model could be expanded to enable a series of ethical and equitable encounters between indigenous and non-indigenous artists, activists and researchers.

2.1 Research Process

Contextual Material

HERITAGE collaborated with TAKUMÃ Kuikuro to create an infrastructure in the Ipatse Village (the main settlement of the Kuikuro people) to host a series of residencies by non-indigenous artists. The Kuikuro constructed a specially designated oca – a traditional indigenous house – to receive the artists.

Between 2017-2018, in partnership with People’s Palace Projects, the Kuikuro hosted three international two-week residencies for 25 Brazilian and international artists. The process established a controlled experiment in cross-cultural exchange following TAKUMÃ’S residency in London.

Two key methodological strategies that were used included:

1) the foregrounding of Kuikuro cultural practices within their own territories in order to create a site for training and exchange between indigenous and non-indigenous artists;

2) the introduction of digital technologies to explore how museums and other cultural institutions engage with indigenous history and cultures.

2.1.1 Ologiko - artistic residency in an indigenous village (2018)

Creative Practice Research Output

A film by TAKUMÃ Kuikuro, produced by HERITAGE, People’s Palace Projects, the Association of Kuikuro Indigenous People of the Upper Xingu (AIKAX) and Neccult/UFRGS. Publicly available on YouTube.

2.1.1.1 A photo-essay of the construction of the Ipatse residency space

Contextual Material

Built by the Kuikuro with support from HERITAGE/People’s Palace Projects (2017).

2.1.1.2 Photo-essay of residency programme (2017-2018)

Creative Practice Research Output

Photos of the three international two-week residencies for 25 Brazilian and international artists hosted by the Kuikuro in partnership with People’s Palace Projects between 2017-2018.