Entanglements

Drawing on Amazonian Indigenous philosophies and practices, the exhibition connects with initiatives in the North East of England focused on healthy rivers and rainforest curricula, addressing ecological sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, and community participation. 

Curated by Dr Giuliana Borea from Newcastle University's School of Modern Languages,  alongside Dr Jamille Pinheiro Dias and Dr Harriet Sutcliffe, the exhibition brings together the powerful work of artists from Peru and Brazil - Denilson Baniwa, Lilly Baniwa, Gustavo Caboco, Danna Gaviota with Kimber Fercat and Pedro Alca, Harry Pinedo / Inin Metsa, Brus Rubio Churay, Cordelia Sánchez / Pesin Kate, Tayná Sateré, and Rember Yahuarcani. Their paintings, videos, drawings, and photographs show the entanglements between humans, animals, plants, rivers, and ancestral beings, confront extractivism, and foreground water as a source of life, continuity, and care. Alongside them, UK-based artist duo Zoe Walker & Neil Bromwich, who is a senior lecturer in Fine Art at Newcastle University, will work with school groups on a participatory project that explores the ghost rivers hidden beneath the streets of Newcastle. 

A local and global approach

Listening to the Voices of the Rivers fosters a deeper understanding of the global climate crisis and will coincide with COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon as it advocates for collective responsibility by encouraging people of all ages to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future.  

The Amazon, the Ouseburn, and the Tyne are presented as starting points for action and understanding. Emphasis is placed on contributing to school curricula on rainforests, highlighting Indigenous ecological knowledge and challenging stereotypes. 

Curators have worked with the Newcastle University Centre for Water and partners to design a rich programme that integrates art, science, and community knowledge. It includes: 

• artists’ and curators’ talks 

• weekly gallery visits 

• film screenings 

• and a one-day symposium where people can learn more about North East initiatives for the rivers.  

Schools are invited to book a visit for a tailored programme that connects with the rainforest curricula.  

Dr Giuliana Borea says: “This exhibition, and the community events invite the valued participation of residents, school children, artists, educators, environmental practitioners, and underrepresented communities, while offering a timely opportunity to reflect, learn, and act.  

"What is very special about this project is that engagement with communities is central to the curatorial concept. We have worked with different practitioners such as artists, anthropologists, ecologists, scientists and  join together with art spaces, government bodies and environmental projects . By coming together, we have made something that we can take out to the world and use to connect with the public, and with schools”. 

The project is a collaboration between Newcastle Contemporary Art, Newcastle University, University of London’s School of Advanced Study, and the Amazonart Project. It has received support from Community Foundation North East, Embassy of Peru in the United Kingdom, Newcastle University - NUCORE Water, HaSS Global, School of Modern Languages - and University of London’s School of Advanced Study. It includes partnerships with Newcastle University Centre for Water and Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, University of London, SAS’s Environmental Humanities Research Hub, Tyne Rivers Trust and UK Environment Agency.  

Listening to the Voices of the Rivers runs until 22 November. The exhibition is open 12pm to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday, at Newcastle Contemporary Art and entrance is free.