Maga Berr
Born in Lima, Peru
Lives and works in Rotterdam-The Netherlands

My work is inspired in our co-existence in the pluriverse; which is a reality constituted by many kinds of worlds, where all sentient beings display diverse and interrelated ways of being and doing. As a Peruvian woman and migrant in Europe, I have had the chance to coexist in diverse worlds, negotiating my identity within interactions in foreign places. My gardening practice, makes me also aware about the feelings of a diversity of sentient beings in the natural world. This awareness helps me discover the synergies we can create in this ephemeral cosmos, which is something necessary within an era of environmental and human crisis.

My artistic proposal tries to observe, confront or metaphorically repair the imbalances of power in societies. I do this by giving a voice or visibility to the one that was once silenced or rejected. My practice shows a need to construct work as a product of social or spiritual connections. Its final form displays the touching effect of an issue or an event in my personal or collective life. Stories get translated into a visual experience.

I use sculptures as constructions that form new parallel worlds, display a narrative, and create a microcosmos which houses many layers of meaning. Each sculptural piece represents a body, sometimes in interaction within an installation. Installations may become a habitat to get immersed within. When I start to materialise work, the choice of materials depends on what I need to voice. Two dimensional work, like quilts, paintings and drawings are for me acts of reflection where I contrast ideas or sketch feelings. Collaboration is always welcome in my work, because it brings new perspectives and knowledge into a given context.

2012-2017
Bachelor Fine Arts, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Thesis keywords: Power Dynamics of Oppression, the Artist as a Shaman, Homeopathic Healing in Art.

2005
Postdoctoral Education in International Development Studies, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Thesis on Politics of International Cooperation for Development.

2002-2004
Master in International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Thesis on the dynamics of Racism, Multiculturalism, De-colonialism, Environmental protection and Empowerment in Education System in the Amazon rainforest in Peru 2004: 5 months field research in the Amazon rainforest of Peru, for MA thesis on intercultural education.

1996-2000
Bachelor in Communication Sciences, specialisation in Film and Television, University of Lima, Peru.

2005-2011
Worked as a coordinator in diverse international social and environmental projects (in South East Asia, Europe, and Latin America), at organizations such as Oxfam-Novib, Amnesty International and Both ENDS. Research on environmental and social inequality in diverse regions of the world gathered experience in a bottom-up approach for participatory project development, facilitation processes, intercultural communication, and project management.

1999-2002
Worked in the broadcasting business in Peru in diverse positions as set journalistic researcher, designer, scriptwriter, photographer, and producer. Gathered relevant information about the socio-political situation in my own country, Peru, by developing journalistic research.

2021 Decolonial Summer School Maria Lugones hosted by Van Abbe Museum, organised by Walter Mignolo and Rolando Vasquez.
2021 Organisation of Collective IANDE, with Latin American artists living in Europe. Co curation of exhibition at CBK Zuidoost.
2020 Organisation of Capoeira Experience program: initiative to create empowering energy within the artistic community through the practice and philosophy of Capoeira.
2019 Art and Politics, six week course given by Maria Hlavajova at BAK, Utrecht.
2018 Screening of video “expectations’’ at SWITCH, Roodkapje Rotterdam.
2017-2018 Organisation of collective “The Bridge”, where artists and refugees were working together to bring their reflections about migration to the outside world.
2016-2017 Participation in working group of the “Flag of Compassion,” project by Rini Hurkmans.

2023 "De Bekendste (Onbekende)Ontdekking van Breda", exhibition organised by Kop in Beeld, Breda Bontanique, Breda.
2023 “Yamitata Untold Stories”, exhibition of IANDE collective, WM Gallery, Amsterdam. Co-curation.
2023 “Prospects” exhibition at Van Nelle Factory during Art Rotterdam fair, The Netherlands.
2022 “Pincoyas Memorias Resistentes”, is a traveling exhibition, Centro Cultural Tome, Chile.
2022 “A World of Many Words”, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam (upcoming March-April). Co-curation.
2021 “Pincoyas Memorias Resistentes”, is a traveling exhibition, Museo de Historia Natural de Concepcion, Chile.
2021 “Zomer Salon, Royal”, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam.
2020 “Chemistry Proofread at Test Site”, Open Ateliers Zuidoost, Amsterdam. Co-curation and artistic contribution.
2020 “Zomer Salon, Royal”, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam.
2020 “City Life”, Arnhem Museum, Arnhem - The Netherlands, February-August.
2020 “A House for the Un-Known” exhibition and artist talk, puntWG, Amsterdam - The Netherlands. Solo.
2019 BijlmAIR residency exhibition and artist talk, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam-The Netherlands.
2019 Residency exhibition, Despina, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July.
2019 Residency exhibition, Despina, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and artist talk, June.
2018 BijlmAIR residency exhibition, CBK Zuidoost, Amsterdam-The Netherlands.
2018 “On my way to the Galactic Supermarket, need anything?”, Garage Rotterdam.
2018 “New Found Land”, RADION, Amsterdam. Curation and artistic contribution.
2018 “Jetzt Schlägt's Driezehn”, V & B showroom, Rotterdam.
2017 “Bougie 2017”, CBK Amsterdam.
2017 “Summer of Love”, De Vishal, Haarlem.
2017 Graduation Show, Gerrit Rietveld Academy.
2017 “Notes”, Peer Paper Platform, Amsterdam.
2016 "Syzygy", Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam. Co-curation and artistic contribution.
2016 "Excellence. Simply delivered. (1/3)", as part of the Uncut Festival, Brakke Grond, Amsterdam. Co-curation and artistic contribution.
2016 "For example: etc.", A Lab, Amsterdam. Co-Curation and artistic contribution.
2015 'Wonder and Wander', De Oude Kerk, Amsterdam.
2014 Part Two, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, 2015. Dogtime 2, Gerrit Rietveld Academy.
2014 “BIT(e)S”, Sixty One Gallery, Amsterdam.

2022 June-August Research Trip to Cajamarca-Peru.
2021 May-July Residency at Het Wilde Weten, Rotterdam
2020 February Orientation trip to prepare second stage of project in Rio de Janeiro.
2019 August-November Residency BijlmAIR Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2019 May-July Residency Despina, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2019 January Trip to Peru. Pre- Colombian ceramic workshop with professor Jose Luis Yamunaque.
2018 November Residency BijlmAIR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2018 August Residency BijlmAIR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2018 May Orientation trip to Peru, Pre- Colombian ceramic historical places - Sechura desert.

Maga Berr
magaberr0000@gmail.com
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