Artist: Magdalena Arau (Argentina)

Magdalena Arau (La Plata, Argentina, 1981) audiovisual communicator graduated at UNLP-FBA, where she works as a teacher. She worked in theatrical and film projects as an assistant director, director and actress, appearing in several national and international festivals. In BAFICI 2011 Expanded File premiered, a work of expanded cinema built from visual materials and amateur sound technicians in an original format (Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Mostra de Cinema Periférico, Südpol and others). For the Changing Places edition held in Buenos Aires she developed the project The boat invention is the shipwreck invention. She is a founding member of ARKA (Archivo Regional de Cine Amateur).

Artwork: A History of Fire

A History of Fire (Una historia del fuego) is a theatrical experience. With its slightly displaced elements, it suggests that the audience be regarded similarly.  The work is located in NAVE, but virtually extends to its neighboring building, which replicates its structure. Two twin buildings, as in a game of mirrors, project their image through time.  The fire sets its own cycle as the gaze runs through a building and faces the other. A history of fire speaks of a possible story, in which cats are arsonists, witnesses and storytellers, timeless architects of an epic destruction and rebirth.

Drama collaboration and sound direction: Guido Ronconi

Video (shooting, assembling and post-production): Gastón Zalba

General Direction: Magdalena Arau

Acknowledgements: María Ruggieri, Lua Rita, Juan Ángel, Facundo, Frank, Agustín Masaedo,  Yungay District.

Place: NAVE

Address: 410 Libertad

Type of Protection: Recognized as a National Monument

NAVE lies in the Yungay district in the center of the city of Santiago de Chile, in a large heritage site mansion built at the beginning of the 20th century, between the years 1914 and 1917, and renovated by the architect Smiljan Radic.  The facade of the building is the only structure that remained partially standing after the fire of 2006 and the 2010 earthquake. The ceiling collapsed in the eight houses that occupied the place; the architectural project completes this action of clearing out and reconstructs the orkfndorjhaoriginal  facslawjhdja gekfj gy ekyga original original facade entirely.