Arte, Mujer y Memoria: Arpilleras from Chile
Arpilleras Today
As Chileans resume dialogues regarding democracy, power, and resistance, the arpillera tradition persists as a relevant and dynamic form of cultural and political expression. The current Chilean protests were sparked by income inequality and access to basic resources and led to a temporary suspension of freedom of assembly. In response, arpilleristas today create works that engage themes originally considered subversive by Pinochet’s authoritarian state. This insurgent legacy amplifies the expressive power of arpilleras and the collective voices of women.
Contemporary Chilean pop stars, like Ana Tijoux, have spent the last year responding to the current political crisis in Chile through music that addresses gender and income inequality, police repression, and violence.
What political musicians do you admire?
Contemporary arpilleras continue to advocate for basic human rights. Victoria Diaz, one of the few arpilleristas to identify herself openly, illustrates the effects of climate change, water shortages, pollution, and consumerism on Chile today.
In December 2019, Chile marked two months since the outbreak of the country's worst civil unrest in decades, in which furious Chileans protested for weeks against social and economic inequality, leading to 26 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries, according to the Organization of American States, with another 20,600 people detained.
Chile's recent anti-government protests are the most important since the end of the dictator Augusto Pinochet's rule in 1990. Demonstrators are venting their rage at the government through slogans and graffiti on the walls of Santiago.