Student Session Abstract 2

“Active memory:” How survivors of the Pinochet dictatorship honor a history of resistance

La Casa Memoria in Valparaíso, Chile, is a community museum dedicated to “visibilizing and resignifying memory; making transparent the historical responsibility of the [Chilean Army] and of the government structures in the systematic violation of human rights.” This entirely volunteer-run museum was created in 2015 and is housed in a formerly abandoned house in the cerros (hills) of Valparaiso. Part community space, part museum, part library, and centered throughout in artistic expression, La Casa Memoria embodies the idea of “active memory:” stories here are not just told, but honored by inspiring collective action towards a better future. My exhibition will seek to embody this spirit through a brief historical overview of the Pinochet dictatorship, prints of a selection of the artworks and artifacts in the museum with information about their historical contexts, and recorded stories told by dictatorship survivors (with English subtitles).