Works by Niles Atallah and León & Cociña gather in a video exhibition

An exhibition titled La utopía retorcida runs through the end of August at Arrayán Espacio, showcasing works by Chilean artists Niles Atallah, Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña, Felipe Elgueta, and Matías López. The exhibit explores the physical components behind some of the country’s most recognized films and experimental animations, offering visitors insight into the creative processes that shaped these visual narratives. The show features sculptures, models, paintings, masks, audiovisual recordings, and original pieces used in various films. It invites viewers to immerse themselves in the imaginative worlds of these artists, who have long operated at the intersection of cinema, visual arts, and technical experimentation. Rather than focusing solely on the final products, the exhibition highlights the tangible elements that often remain outside the frame, such as the materials and techniques that made the images possible. Among the central pieces is a baby wall, a two-by-two-meter installation composed of dozens of doll heads created for Merrimundi, Niles Atallah's latest animated feature film. The exhibition also includes materials from Hansel y Gretel, the upcoming film by León and Cociña (La casa lobo). Additional contributions come from Elgueta and López, including their paintings and videos, alongside a series of wet collodion plates developed by Atallah for his new project, Casa Fósfora, in collaboration with Espora Taller. Pedro Bahamondes, journalist and curator of the exhibition, described the display as a means to view films and the broader Chilean audiovisual scene from a different perspective. He noted that the objects on display are no longer mere props but stand as independent artworks capable of sustaining their own narratives. The exhibition also serves as a portrait of a generation of artists who have built one of the most distinctive imaginations within contemporary Chilean art through diverse artistic languages. The timing of the exhibition is particularly significant for its participants. While León and Cociña prepare for the world premiere of Princess Burro at the Locarno Film Festival, Atallah has recently opened Casa Fósfora, a space dedicated to artistic research and material experimentation. Meanwhile, Elgueta and López continue expanding their work around video, artificial intelligence, photogrammetry, painting, and animation, reinforcing new ways to understand the relationship between technology and visual arts. Over the past twenty years, the four artists have formed a network of collaborations centered around Diluvio, a platform where they have developed shared projects and a unique approach to blending cinema and visual arts. La utopía retorcida captures this journey, presenting it for the first time through the materiality of the works, the objects that survived filming, the models that preceded the images, and the pieces that continue to exist beyond the screen. For Atallah, the creative process is inseparable from the final product. He emphasized that the context surrounding the work, the conversations, workshops, collaborations, and shared time, also forms part of its language. This exhibition allows viewers to see precisely that: not only the results but also the physical and emotional traces left behind each film and object. Atallah, born in the United States with Palestinian heritage, has developed a body of work that spans cinema, installation, and material research. His other films include Rey and Animalia Paradoxa, which premiered at festivals in Venice and Annecy. Alongside León and Cociña, he is also co-founder of Diluvio, one of the most influential projects in recent decades for experimental Chilean cinema. The exhibition continues until the end of August, providing a rare opportunity to explore the material foundations of some of Chile’s most innovative cinematic and artistic endeavors. Visitors can experience firsthand how these artists have transformed traditional media into new forms of expression, reflecting both their individual visions and collective influence on the cultural landscape.