Occasional Paper Series #53
Así querés que aprenda: Artivism as a Speculative Praxis
by Ángela Shamira Morales Pereira, Ana Corona, and Rodrigo Aleman
Así querés que aprenda (Is this how you want me to learn?): Artivism as a Speculative Praxis is a youth-led research project created by a community of young people from Centro Educativo de Capacitación, Arte y Producción (CECAP), an alternative school in Uruguay. The project’s title is drawn from a poem written during the research process, where youth critically reflect on their educational experiences. In the poem, the phrase “Así querés que aprenda” is used ironically, questioning the discriminatory and inequitable conditions under which they are often expected to learn. CECAP provides flexible and comprehensive educational opportunities for youth between the ages of 14 and 20 who are not enrolled in the formal education system and face social vulnerability. CECAP’s mission is to address the educational and social needs of these youth, who often face challenges such as poverty, early entry into the labor market, and familial responsibilities that prevent them from continuing their formal education. The centers aim to re-engage young people by offering alternative educational pathways, combining academic learning with artistic and production-based activities.
Through an artivist praxis, youth critique the barriers that hinder their access to quality education. Artivism is defined as a movement that combines artistic practices, based on aesthetic experience, with the instrumental objectives of activism. It utilizes the power of art as a tool for communication, aimed at creating awareness and engagement in political and social issues (Gutiérrez-Rubí, 2021; Cano, 2022). Artivism employs artistic actions to re-signify contexts, enabling transformation, change, and resistance. It involves critical and testimonial art that raises awareness of social injustices.
Ángela Shamira Morales Pereira, born in Melo, Cerro Largo, is a musical artist known by her stage name Ailu. She engages in various musical genres, including rap, hip-hop, pop, rock, hyperpop, and alternative music. She is currently completing her middle school studies. Her musical goals include releasing her first album and uploading it to digital platforms.
Ana Corona holds a degree in Visual and Plastic Arts (UDELAR), is a film assistant director (ECU), and is currently completing her master’s degree in Learning Design (UTEC). She works with youth as a socio-educational educator at CECAP in Uruguay, combining artistic expression with critical spaces for reflection. She enjoys the learning that emerges through exchanges with her students and exploring the transformative power of art in each shared experience. Ana is a member of the artivist collective Χάος, which brings together artists from different disciplines and regions, advocating for artistic expression as a means for social and cultural change.
Rodrigo Alemán is a visual artist and educator committed to the transformative power of art. His work combines visual exploration with critical reflection, creating spaces for dialogue and expression for young people in educational institutions. Through workshops, he fosters creativity as a tool for questioning. He has developed works using various techniques, with a focus on street art and graffiti. His practice is enriched by interaction with communities, using art as a means to highlight social issues and stimulate critical thinking.