The creation and the “planting” of nine full-size wooden figures in the desert represents scenes of daily Saharan life and talks about the possibility of returning to normality, about recouping customs and, above all, peacefulness. From the beginning, this project intended to be a homage to these people presence in their land, since they are the ones who shape this place they inhabit and endow with a self identity. These shades planted in the desert represent the firm spirit of the outcasts “sons of the wind” who in spite of their exile will remain in the place that always belonged to them. ÁNGELES BENÍTEZ The Clouds’ sound In a place where water is a treasure, vegetation something of a miracle, there is a tree from where coloured drops fall like a mixture of reality and fantasy. In the middle of the desert we found a talha Tree full of drops that the wind moves like a cloud. A cloud that is born in the earth thanks to the accumulation of everybody’s dreams. Ceramic drops –copies of that use for lamps-, small stones, war remainders and other elements found around the place hang from the talha branches. These elements will touch one another when the wind raises producing sounds so that they are noticed.
GUILLERMO ROIZ The shadow of the gnomon This is an intervention where I play with the shadows that the gnomon, -in this case a hand-, produces from dawn to sunset. At dawn, its projection can be seen in a circumference done with quartz. At sunset, it can be seen on circumference made of red granite. The hand is red because of the Moroccan occupation. The shadow makes a nomadic route, different depending on the light and ruled only by nature. The white circumference symbolizes salt, which was the equivalent to money for Saharan people when the Trans-Saharan routes; the red one symbolizes this land, while the hand or gnomon represents the external interests on this territory. The main idea of this work is the necessary exchange to achieve freedom and development of nations. MARÍA ORTEGA ESTEPA Travelling Paradise Paradise is everything. All we want it to be. Sometimes it can be a place, a moment or someone who makes you happy. On my returning from that wonderful land, I have learnt that true Paradise is them, the Saharan people. An excited Larbi Lehbib Mohamed told me in our return journey that that present he had painted there
was the first mural done in Sahara. We all smiled broadly. I was going back very happy. I wanted to take to Tifariti an oasis of hope for those who stopped and observed it could dream of a new horizon through that magic wood: a homeward journey. A painting made of dreams, mine and yours, that I wish to become true very soon. Thanks to you all, I leave there a piece of excitement and hope. We do not forget you. ROSAMAR CORCUERA Saharawi woman We built the Woman of Sand collectively with women of the workshop of ceramics at the Refugee Camp in El Aiún, it was an interchange experience in every sense. We worked eight days full time, a hard work under the sun sharing efforts, experiences and achievements. I got to know their world and hopes. The Woman of Sand is dedicated to all women that live in refugee camps in Tindouf who keep alive hope in a free Sahara with their strength and struggle. A fragment of a poem to peace translated into Arabic, written by my father Arturo, is written in her shoulders. I write peace when the sun shows up, I travel around lands and sands
of life Sowing a dove in each furrow. WORKSHOPS Workshop about creativity. Comprehension of the infinite as a work of art. The weave of dreams and emotion. PAMEN PEREIRA Creativity arrives from an inner assessment, from an inner freedom, and as I know I have everything inside me, I have the capacity of action. Alejandro Jodorowsky The objective was to transmit confidence in this day and age society. The basic idea is to understand, apply and develop the keys to stimulate this conscience and creative capacity. The workshop proposed less dispersion and wanted to be fully inside an imaginary space as an exercise; however, the surrounding activity was so intense that the basic work was to become more conscious of reality. The success of the activity was the fresh and brave answer from the participants about the creativity exercises I proposed. I clean forgot about the star exercise of the workshop due to so many things happening at the same time and with such intensity that I’d rather find the suitable moment when they could pay more attention. In fact, I’d like to extend it in time and for the next participants in ARTifariti. This practical and detailed exercise in the