The 8th Encuentro of the Hemispheric Institute sought to examine the broad intersections between urban space, performance and political/artistic action in the Americas. From the critical poetics of body art to the occupation of public space by social movements, the event invited participants to explore the borders, identities and practices through which subjectivities, hegemonies and counter-hegemonies are constructed in the spaces of the city and beyond.
Institutional Welcome and Opening Remarks for the 2013 Encuentro, followed by the presentation of the Senior Fellows Awards to Vivian Martínez Tabares and Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani (representatives: Miguel Rubio and Teresa Ralli). The distinction of Senior Fellow is awarded to scholars, artists and activists affiliated with the Hemispheric Institute whose work exemplifies the highest achievement in the field of performance and politics. Fellows are selected by the Institute’s Board. The first two fellows, Jesusa Rodríguez and Luis Millones, were named at the 2007 Encuentro in Buenos Aires, and in Bogotá in 2009 we named Tomás Ybarra-Frausto and Guillermo Gómez-Peña. Hemi proudly named Vivian Martínez Tabares and Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani as Senior Fellows for 2013.
Vivian Martínez Tabares is a critic, theatre researcher, editor and Professor. She holds an undergraduate degree in Theatre and a doctorate in Art Sciences at the Instituto Superior de Arte. Editor of the journal Conjunto and director at the Casa de las Américas and Mayo Teatral. Her most recent book is Escena y tensión social.
Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani (Peru) is a collective formed in 1971, who travel paths sustained by theatrical performance research conducted from the perspective of a group culture with diverse roots both traditional and contemporary. Their works have resulted in unique processes going far beyond the material generated in the shared space. Miguel Rubio is a director, theater researcher, and founding member of Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani. His most recent works as director include: Con- cierto Olvido (2010); El último ensayo (2008); Sin Título-técnica mixta (2004); Hecho en Perú-Vitrinas para un Museo de la Memoria (2001). He is also author of Raíces y semillas: Maestros y caminos del teatro en América Latina (2011), Notas sobre el teatro (2001) and El cuerpo ausente (2008). Teresa Ralli is a founding member of Grupo Cultural Yuyachkani - her main space of experimentation and creation. She is an actress and director who researches both voice and body. She is also a Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, where she received a degree in Communications and a graduate degree (for a distinguished career) in Theatre Arts.
