There was a quiet urgency in my pace as I approached the artist’s home, unsure of what to expect. Upon arrival, I was welcomed by colour, creativity, and the inviting aromas of fresh coffee, baked bread, Chilean honey, and runny egg yolks. The flat, tucked away from Camden’s chaos, was a carefully curated space of design and culture—books from every continent lined muralled walls, and artworks were carefully placed throughout the home.
I was greeted not as an outsider but as a friend by four strangers: Tere Chad, Ana Luiza Rodrigues, José Miranda, and Camilo Soler—the curator, the photographer, the artist, and the anthropologist. Though from different corners of South America, they were united by Neo Norte (The New North), Tere’s ongoing research-based project exploring Latin American identity, culture, and creative exchange.
Now preparing for its fifth iteration in October, Neo Norte has evolved since its 2017 inception through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and conferences, structured around four main concepts:
Migration as Creative Destruction
“What does it mean to be Latin American?” Tere asks “You only have to look around one table to see how diverse we are. I like the idea of how innovation can emerge from creative destruction,” drawing parallels with the Manifesto Antropófago (Cannibalism Manifesto), a seminal text that embraces cultural fusion and challenges established hierarchies.
Cultural Syncretism as a Question
“How do these diverse cultures integrate? And how do they create something entirely new and unique?” reflecting the ever-evolving nature of Latin American identity—shaped by centuries of colonisation, migration, and cultural blending.
Shamanism
This concept is examined from both pre-colonial and Western perspectives, acknowledging how indigenous cultures have been transformed, merged, or absorbed over time. As José explains, “There’s no such thing as a pure culture anymore—everything now exists as a blend of past influences and present realities.”
The Natural Versus the Digital
Here, Neo Norte explores the intersection between tradition and technology. From Ecuadorian textiles inspired by ancient Andean sculptures to cutting-edge digital art, Neo Norte brings these dialogues to the forefront. “It’s about questioning how new technologies will influence cultural expression in the future,”
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