by Artistic Research PhD Candidates of the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Supervisor: Luzius Bernhard
Since the signing of the Peace Agreement in Colombia in 2016, territories inhabited by indigenous communities, farmers, and guerrilla groups have faced a contradictory situation. Land restitution has, in part, been a corrupt and arbitrary process that has attempted to alleviate land dispossession during the conflict. Large areas are now in the hands of multinational mining companies and a few landowners dedicated to cattle ranching, African palm plantations, and other monocultures that negatively affect biodiversity.
For non-humans, the presence of guerrilla groups created a different kind of peace. These armed groups took refuge in forests and jungles, and indirectly protected other beings that inhabited these places. In the Colombian context, which is so socially fractured by the conflict, the concept of “peace” takes on ambiguous meanings in different social groups. This situation shows that human peace is very different to non-human peace.
Biologists are now finding new species in these previously inaccessible areas. With the arrival of tourism, multinational corporations, cattle ranching, large-scale agriculture, and illegal deforestation, biodiversity is increasingly under threat, and protection measures are not strong enough. Conservation is a complex task; the more disciplines involved, the better.
For my PhD project, I am investigating different ways to accompany and strengthen conservation processes through art. Building bridges of dialogue through art with biologists and indigenous communities in Colombia to conserve biodiversity and traditional knowledge is one of my main interests. I question the notion of “conservation” in the context of biology and project it in a broader sense, working with isolated species and including whole ecosystems with human and non-human presence to achieve more sustainable approaches. In this context, I’m exploring the creation of links with artistic and scientific spaces to create support networks and approaches to conservation from different angles.
As part of my research, I am part of a team of herpetological biologists. We are developing several research projects on Gorgona Island on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Being the only artist in a group of biologists working on conservation is an honour. It is something I have always wanted to do, and now I am contribute with my artistic research and practice.
Through my role, I develop ways of communicating the research projects to the communities around the island. I have complete freedom in this process as part of my PhD research. My challenge is to break with the traditional ways of scientific visualization and bring in sensitive elements of artistic research to create more engaging and complex ways of communicating through my artistic work.
Key terms: Art and science, environmental conservation, transdisciplinary work, post-conflict, Colombia.
Marthin Rozo is a Colombian artist and candidate in the Artistic Research PhD Programme at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. He works and researches at the intersection of art and biology for the conservation and recognition of biodiversity. He received his MA with honours in Art & Science from the University of Applied Arts Vienna and recognition from the city of Vienna for his Master’s thesis. His work has been shown internationally.