On the 12 of June, she will be performing as part of Desire – Movement of Arts and Common Places, with the lecture/performance ‘How to bring the desire to make a revolution out of its slumber?’, but also with the feature film ‘Revolución Puta’, in which she explores, through four short films, the complex relationship between Bolivian sex workers and the state.
Since 1992, the anarcho-feminist activist María Galindo has headed the Bolivian collective Mujeres Creando, whose mission is to take the artistic expressions of other women members to the streets of Bolivia. She is a psychologist, radio presenter, author and former TV presenter, but is mainly known for her effervescent and political performances.
Braga 25 (B25) – You will be programmed in Desire, as an artist, performer and also as a speaker. How can we relate Desire to the concept of revolution?
María Galindo (MG) – I’ll leave that for my talk, but the title is a perfect summary of this relationship: revolution rhymes with illusion.
B25 – We know that anything can and will happen at your conferences/performances… But what can we expect from your talk at Desire?
MG – We could say that we’ll be giving a lecture on the revolution, but the tone, content and movements will transform what is meant to be a lecture into an act of pamphleteering political agitation. Its outcome will perhaps be an oration and its climax a performance. We will explore the revolution as a concept, in order to go beyond the concept and enter the revolution as an illusion and, with the help of illusions, awaken it and transform it into desire.
B25 – Your feature film ‘Revolución Puta’ will be screened during the festival. How did this project come about?
MG – It was a necessity in the struggle of sex workers in their relationship with the state. We got tired of a repetitive relationship that was wearing us down and decided to establish a relationship with society through a film. That’s how the project was born – out of the frustrating and repetitive relationship with the state.
B25 – What has been the impact on those who have seen the documentary?
MG – The impact in Bolivia was great. We could say it was a cultural phenomenon. We premiered it all over the country, filling cinemas and theatres that are normally empty. We raised a lot of money for our fellow activists, generated a lot of debate and effectively ended police repression against sex workers.
B25 – The question that couldn’t be missed: what do you want?
MG – My wishes are very simple – I enjoy life. I wish for love, time to rest, which is what I need most. I wish for a good book to read. I wish for time to think and write. We’ll talk about my forbidden wishes at the conference.
The full programme for Desire – Movement of Arts and Common Places can be found here.