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ATRATO
A new digital commission by Juan Covelli
The Atrato River is one of the most symbolic waterways in South America, and a contested site of memory, extraction and resistance. Under Spanish colonial rule, it served as a vital artery transporting gold panned by enslaved Africans. More recently, mechanised dredging by the mineral trade has contaminated its waters, damaging the lands and peoples around it. In this new commission, Colombian artist Juan Covelli traces the interweaving flows of the river’s environmental and geopolitical entanglements.
Global demand for gold, copper and platinum has continued the ransacking of the Atrato’s riverbeds, now to fuel the production of electronic devices. Metals crudely extracted from the river ironically return to the region – after filtering through complex supply chains – in computers, mobile phones and other technologies that control many aspects of modern life. These cycles echo centuries of colonialism, now refracted through the lens of capitalism.
Presenting different digital processes alongside objects that imagine an excavation of the Atrato’s riverbanks, the work scrutinises the relationship between territory and technology. Its soundscape blends traditional alaboas sung by cantaoras from the riverlands with original compositions and field recordings from the river itself. Mourning and defiance resonate together, offering the river not just an image, but a voice.
Commission supported by the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely. With further support from the Embassy of Colombia to the United Kingdom, as part of the bicentenary celebrations commemorating 200 years of diplomatic relations between Colombia and the UK.
Credits
Credits
VIDEO INSTALLATION
Museography: Daniela Bright
Artist’s Assistant – Sculptural Production: Nicolás León
Casting and Jewellery Production Consultancy: Simón Mazuera
3D Printing: Andrés Ramírez
Artist’s Assistant – Sculptural Production: Nicolás León
Casting and Jewellery Production Consultancy: Simón Mazuera
3D Printing: Andrés Ramírez
VIDEO
Director / Artist: Juan Covelli
Producer: Natalia Ordoñez
Screenplay: Lina Useche, Juan Covelli
Cinematography: Esteban Lalinde
Location Manager & Field Producer: Juan David Mesa
Location Scout & Field Production Assistant: Leison Achito
Key Grip: Andrés Clavijo
Drone Operator: Brayant Gómez
Drone Scouting Operator: Leison Achito
Singers (Cantaoras): Lida Yuliana Parra Moreno, Fabiola Torres de Moreno
Narration – Voice Over: Ricardo Mejía
Director / Artist: Juan Covelli
Producer: Natalia Ordoñez
Screenplay: Lina Useche, Juan Covelli
Cinematography: Esteban Lalinde
Location Manager & Field Producer: Juan David Mesa
Location Scout & Field Production Assistant: Leison Achito
Key Grip: Andrés Clavijo
Drone Operator: Brayant Gómez
Drone Scouting Operator: Leison Achito
Singers (Cantaoras): Lida Yuliana Parra Moreno, Fabiola Torres de Moreno
Narration – Voice Over: Ricardo Mejía
POST-PRODUCTION
Worldbuilding & Unreal Engine Cinematics: Carlos Caballero
3D Modelling: Cristóbal Cea
3D Modelling & Animation: David Chávez
Concept Art: Nicolh Ávila
Colour Grading, Editing & Montage: Esteban Congote
Worldbuilding & Unreal Engine Cinematics: Carlos Caballero
3D Modelling: Cristóbal Cea
3D Modelling & Animation: David Chávez
Concept Art: Nicolh Ávila
Colour Grading, Editing & Montage: Esteban Congote
Sound Post-Production & Mixing: La Tina Sonido
Sound Design: Andrés Silva
Voice Over Recording: Camilo Otero
Original Composition & Music Production: Ricardo Tovar Mateus
Sound Design: Andrés Silva
Voice Over Recording: Camilo Otero
Original Composition & Music Production: Ricardo Tovar Mateus
Archival Research: María Fernanda Vaca
GRAPHIC CREATION
Ada María León Mejía
Ada María León Mejía
ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
“Quien gobierna el Atrato” – Carlos Gómez
“Atrato Envenenao: la huella del mercurio” – Fundación La Silla Vacía
“Merecemos un Imperio” – Mauricio Maldonado
“Quien gobierna el Atrato” – Carlos Gómez
“Atrato Envenenao: la huella del mercurio” – Fundación La Silla Vacía
“Merecemos un Imperio” – Mauricio Maldonado
Header image: VIDEO INSTALLATION Museography: Daniela Bright Artist’s Assistant – Sculptural Production: Nicolás León Casting and Jewellery Production Consultancy: Simón Mazuera 3D Printing: Andrés Ramírez VIDEO Director / Artist: Juan Covelli Producer: Natalia Ordoñez Screenplay: Lina Useche, Juan Covelli Cinematography: Esteban Lalinde Location Manager & Field Producer: Juan David Mesa Location Scout & Field Production Assistant: Leison Achito Key Grip: Andrés Clavijo Drone Operator: Brayant Gómez Drone Scouting Operator: Leison Achito Singers (Cantaoras): Lida Yuliana Parra Moreno, Fabiola Torres de Moreno Narration – Voice Over: Ricardo Mejía POST-PRODUCTION Worldbuilding & Unreal Engine Cinematics: Carlos Caballero 3D Modelling: Cristóbal Cea 3D Modelling & Animation: David Chávez Concept Art: Nicolh Ávila Colour Grading, Editing & Montage: Esteban Congote Sound Post-Production & Mixing: La Tina Sonido Sound Design: Andrés Silva Voice Over Recording: Camilo Otero Original Composition & Music Production: Ricardo Tovar Mateus Archival Research: María Fernanda Vaca GRAPHIC CREATION Ada María León Mejía ARCHIVAL MATERIAL “Quien gobierna el Atrato” – Carlos Gómez “Atrato Envenenao: la huella del mercurio” – Fundación La Silla Vacía “Merecemos un Imperio” – Mauricio Maldonado