Emiddio Vásquez and Patrick Ziza in residence at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights (MMDH)

In March – April 2025, artists Emiddio Vásquez and Patrick Ziza were hosted at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile, a museum that addresses the difficult legacy of the Chilean dictatorship (1973-1990).

Emiddio Vásquez explores material transformations to examine ideological infrastructures. During his residency in Chile, he shifted his research from the Palestinian diaspora to the study of coins as social devices. His findings, particularly coins altered by political prisoners, connected to his reflections on Chile’s La Moneda palace, bombed during the 1973 military coup. He worked with materials from architect Miguel Lawner and examined coins from the military regime. The residency concluded with a performative lecture, Numismática, which explored how coins reflect memory, ideology, and resistance in the context of Chile’s dictatorship.

Patrick Ziza explores queer identities and African traditions through dance, focusing on the Global South. During their residency in Chile, they initially engaged with artistic dissidence from the dictatorship but shifted their focus after hearing testimonies from former political prisoners. One key story was that of the Caballito de mar, a seahorse image seen through a drain grate by blindfolded prisoners, symbolizing resistance and resilience. These carvings, part of the Museum’s collection, inspired Ziza’s performance ‘Tracepace’. The piece, held on the Museum’s esplanade, invited collective participation through walking, honouring human rights fighters and reflecting on memory, political violence, and resilience.