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Wellbeing and Resilience all lifelong: Drawing the Embrace
María Dolores Esparza Sánchez, University of Murcia
"Ecology of an Embrace" is an ecoartivist proposal (ecology, art and activism) that recalls the eco-feminist spirit of the Chipko women and which is shaped in a collective and collaborative performative action through drawing. It was presented for the first time by Spanish ecofeminist artist Verónica Perales, in 2018 and since then this collaborative performance has been activated several times.
During the “Wellbeing and Resilience all lifelong” Blended Intensive Program, that took place at the University of Murcia during 2024, we activated ""Ecology of an Embrace ""again. Drawing the embrace of the tree is an embrace of who we are, an embrace of ourselves in time. Spanish philosopher Alicia Puleo talks about the indigenous paradigm of ""Sumak Kausay"", also called ""Good Living"". In contrast to the exacerbated individualism promoted by the consumer society, in Sumak Kausay the quality of life does not depend on excessive consumption, but on the harmony between individuals, peoples and nature. Drawing in the experience we describe is used to promote that Sumak Kausay.
The objectives and / or effects to be achieved activating Ecology of an Embrace were:
- To be able to see the other in ourselves and ourselves in the other.
- To promote empathy.
- To amplify our perception.
- To feel the connection with the cosmos and encourage the growth of keen “mycorrhizae”.
In this paper we will review the background of this precise artwork and also how the artistic practices -using drawing as a tool- may be connectors to ecofeminist and ecosocial ideals.
Keywords: chipko, drawing, ecofeminism, empathy, resilience
