AMAZÔNIA Talks #1 – From Seeing to Listening: The Reversal of the Gaze
To kick off the new series “The Future is Indigenous,” the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum invites you to a special evening with Beto Marubo (Javari Valley) and Francisco Piyãko Asháninka (Rio Amônia/Acre) from Brazil. These two individuals are among those whose lives Sebastião Salgado has captured in his exhibition “AMAZÔNIA.” Their faces and families are part of the photographs that are being shown worldwide. But on this evening, they will step out of the pictures and speak for themselves about the protection of the Amazon, indigenous perspectives on the climate crisis, and their expectations for COP30 in Belém.
Joining them on the podium: Andreas Wolter, Chairman of the Cologne Climate Alliance.
Moderator: Nanette Snoep, Artistic Director of the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum
Admission: € 8, combined ticket with exhibition: € 20,
Cologne VHS Forum at the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum
1/2 November 2025
“THE FUTURE IS INDIGENIOUS“. Amazonian visions and struggles”
Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne
Curated by Alfredo Villar
The Amazon is not a place, but a transnational, living space that spans nine countries—from Bolivia to Colombia, from Peru to Venezuela. It encompasses forests, rivers, and cities, rural communities as well as urban centers, where more than 70% of the Amazon’s population now lives. The intervention brings together seven artists from different regions of Amazonia whose works open up new perspectives on art, memory, the future, and resistance. Two of them are coming to Cologne from Peru for the opening: Olinda Silvano, an artist from the Shipibo-Konibo people of the Ucayali region, whose paintings, textiles, and large-scale collective works are based on geometric Kené patterns—visual languages that connect the body, the river, and the cosmos. And Alfredo Villar, an artist, curator, and musician from Lima, who reinterprets the Chicha movement—an urban, hybrid culture between Amazonia and the city—as an artistic practice in his work. With “THE FUTURE IS INDIGENIOUS“ they open up a space for listening, remembrance, and exchange.
1.11. 25
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Artist & Curator in Dialogue: with Olinda Silvano (Shipibo-Konibo) & Alfredo Villar (Lima).
Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, Cologne
An afternoon of celebration to mark the opening of the new accompanying intervention THE FUTURE IS INDIGENOUS. Olinda Silvano comes from the Shipibo-Konibo community on the Ucayali River in the Peruvian Amazon region. Her art is inextricably linked to the practice of Kené, an ancient form of knowledge and design passed down by women. Alfredo Villar, artist, curator and musician from Lima, contributes the energy of the chicha movement – a hybrid urban culture born out of migration, colour and music that connects its Amazonian roots with the city. Together, they will explore art as a collective practice with shared, fluid authorship, collaboration, memory and resistance. After their talk, it’s time to loosen up and unwind – to the sound of vinyls from Alfredo’s personal collection featuring chicha, Amazonian cumbia, psychedelic tropical beats and a range of Peruvian drinks and snacks.
2. 11. 25
2:00–3:30 p.m.
Walk & Talk with Olinda Silvano and Alfredo Villar. Introduction to Kené and Nii Ken
Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne
On the second day of the opening, artist Olinda Silvano and curator Alfredo Villar will introduce the audience to the world of Kené art, a living tradition from the Peruvian Amazon region. Created by women of the Shipibo-Konibo community, Kené expresses the connection between the physical, spiritual and natural worlds. Through her work “Nii Kené”, Olinda Silvano provides insights into her artistic practice and cultural heritage.
2.11.25
4:00–6:30 p.m.
Kené design and drawing workshop with Olinda Silvano
Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne
Artist Olinda Silvano offers an introduction to the world of Kené art. Kené are visual languages passed down through generations of women – lines that are sung, thought and drawn. As part of the workshop, participants will learn about the cultural significance of Kené and create their own designs. Maximum 15 participants.
To sign up, please contact:RJM-veranstaltungen@stadt-koeln.de Participation fee: € 15
6 November 2025
from 4 p.m. Community meeting in the Yellow Room, with in.Haus e. V.
Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Cologne
The YellowRoom is a place within the RJM’s permanent exhibition space dedicated to discussions, workshops and exchange, where community nights are held every first Thursday of the month alongside weekend workshops, workshops with schools and students or film workshops. The YellowRoom is curated by a collective: Nayra Ramos, (In-Haus e.V.), Büsra Dogan (RJM intern, University of Cologne), Yasemin Cerci (RJM intern, University of Cologne) in collaboration with different communities throughout Cologne
6.11. 25
7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
La Fiesta Amazónica – Art, Dialogue & Music with Olinda Silvano & Alfredo Villar
To conclude the opening week, a Walk & Talk stroll through the intervention THE FUTURE IS INDIGENOUS, plus discussions about artistic positions, collective creativity, memory, and an urban Amazonia, followed by a DJ set featuring Alfredo’s personal vinyl collection: Amazonian cumbia, chicha, psychedelic rhythms and tropical grooves. Amazonia meets Cologne. La fiesta continúa.
For more information, dates and tickets please visit rjm-amazonia.de
