Participating in the Venice Biennale 2022, Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion Tells the History of Peatlands in Chile

The Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion is a collective project representing the State of Chile to participate in the International Art Exhibition, the 59th Venice Biennale. Titled "The Milk of Dream," this event is officially open to the public from April 23 to November 27, 2022

( Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion For Venice Biennale 2022)

As a collaborative project, Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion involves many parties, from the process of research, and manufacturing, to successfully entering the selection project for the Venice Biennale 2022. They are Ariel Bustamante–an artist and filmmaker; Ariel Bustamante, and Carla Macchiavello–an art historian. An architect from Chile, Alfredo Theirmann, also participated in constructing the Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion.

( Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion showcases the history of peatlands in Patagonian)

Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion builds by combining aspects of art, science, and traditionalism to conserve the eco-culture of Patagonian peatlands. The name "Turba Tol Hol-Hol" is taken from the native language of the Selk'nam Nation, which means "heart of peatlands." With this vision, the pavilion positions itself as a form of a campaign to provide a new view of human sensitivity to ecosystems and climate change.

(The history of peatlands in Patagonian is displayed through the light of a projector directed at a display screen)

This prism-shaped pavilion seems to tell the story of how peatlands' existence is maintained, side by side with the indigenous culture and traditions of their ancestors. Because nowadays, peatlands are being eroded, and it is feared that they will disappear in the future.

Alfredo Theirmann translated the problem by implementing an iron structure built at the 2022 Venice Biennale and equipped with a translucent screen featuring a film by Ariel Bustamante, which tells the story of peatland history.

(Inside the Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion visitors will be immersed in the history of peatlands)

The team also created a multi-sensor installation and sensual instruments that will 'drown' visitors into the experience of exploring the Tierra del Fuego peatlands in Chile.

According to Alfredo Theirmann, La Biennale has the power to assist society in opening up its views and feelings to return to its essence as a human being living on Earth.

"The Venice Biennale has clear relevance to this project, as the event's theme can bring those issues to the fore. Thus this can affect eco-cultural, we hope directly, the political ethos of the two entities that concern us: the Selk'nam people and peatlands, not only from Chile but around the world," he added.

(Turba Tol Hol-Hol Pavilion - A prism-shaped pavilion with a vantage screen featuring a film by Ariel Bustamante)