Bienal de Pontevedra

Regina José Galindo addresses the exploitation of natural resources and extractivism as a structural violence impacting the most vulnerable communities. Through images taken by both professionals and members of the affected communities, the work highlights the importance of collective action to face the socio-ecological crisis. The performance, which takes the form of a 'human sculpture', is set in the old riverbeds that have been diverted or polluted by the extractive industry, as an act of resistance against environmental destruction and the colonisation of bodies and territories. In the collective action that took place during this performance, slogans such as 'Freedom for water' and 'Water is life, not merchandise' are used to denounce the serious environmental and social crisis in Guatemala, where 95% of the rivers are polluted. In this context, Ríos de gente criticises the privatisation of water and becomes a cry for the dignity and the rights of communities struggling to preserve their resources and their future. With this performance, Regina José Galindo reaffirms her commitment to social and environmental justice, and consolidates her work as a powerful instrument of resistance and transformation.