Exploring «Inside the Amazon» at Kunsthaus Baselland
Understanding the vast and complex ecosystem of the South American rainforest from a European perspective presents a unique set of challenges. At Kunsthaus Baselland, the exhibition Inside the Amazon invites visitors to engage directly with these vital ecological and cultural themes through contemporary art, historical photography, and indigenous perspectives.
Experiencing Amazonian Realities and Indigenous Perspectives in Basel
The exhibition brings together powerful works that examine the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world, focusing heavily on the lives, cosmology, and struggles of the Yanomami community. Central to the presentation are the influential photographic series by Claudia Andujar, who has dedicated decades to documenting and defending the indigenous peoples of the Brazilian rainforest. Her striking black-and-white and infrared images—many captured during her journeys in her Volkswagen Beetle to deliver supplies and medicine—offer an intimate look into a world threatened by illegal gold mining, highway construction, and shifting political landscapes.
Complementing Andujar’s photography are rare drawings by the Yanomami artist Porako, created through drawing projects initiated in the 1970s. These works provide a direct, self-articulated view of indigenous life and nature. The exhibition also features contemporary contributions, such as Felipe Castelblanco’s two-channel video installation Rio Arriba [Upriver], which charts a journey along the Putumayo River in the Colombian Pan-Amazon, highlighting the ecological and political pressures facing river communities.
Visitors exploring cultural institutions through Musemap (musemap.art) can discover more local contemporary art venues, current exhibitions, and upcoming projects by checking out the whats-on exhibitions or browsing the museums list.
