Congratulations to Amélie Bouvier, who was awarded the 2026 Bienal SACO residency, organized in collaboration between SACO, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, and the Instituto Superior Latinoamericano de Arte (ISLA).
"Amélie Bouvier is the artist selected in the call in alliance with Wallonia Brussels International and the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Chile, to carry out an artistic residency at the Latin American Higher Institute of Art (ISLA) in Antofagasta, Chile.
“Her interest in the skies, astronomy, and worldviews seems very valuable to me. That drive to connect with the universe through observation, to try to understand what the firmament reveals to us, and to engage in dialogue with those who have dedicated their lives to interpreting that knowledge,” said Dagmara Wyskiel, director of the SACO Biennial, who will also provide curatorial guidance to Amélie in her artistic process.
The call for applications, aimed at visual artists from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, sought to offer the opportunity to explore the city of Antofagasta, its social and natural context, and its art scene. Furthermore, the residency is envisioned as a research and networking opportunity that could lead to the SACO1.3 Biennial in 2027.
“Their participation is part of the active cultural cooperation between the Wallonia-Brussels Representation in Chile and the SACO Biennial, which since 2021 has facilitated the presence of prominent Belgian artists in the Atacama Desert. In one of the world’s most emblematic territories for astronomical observation, their residency will open new possibilities for dialogue between art, science, and landscape,” commented Martine Leclercq, Representative of Wallonia-Brussels in Chile – Embassy of Belgium.
During the month-long residency, the artist will dedicate herself to research and experimentation focused on the contemporary relationship with the night sky, including its pollution. She also hopes to gather information on memories, stories, and experiences related to this theme from the local community and experts she will meet with. "
Please find more information here.