Problem Statement:

Delcy Morelos will explore sustainable organic construction materials, questioning how future architecture can draw inspiration from ancient Indigenous building practices. She aims to decolonize bio-construction by rethinking it through ancestral methods and low-tech approaches for a more sustainable future.

Challenge description:

Building from a field trip in Flanders in Spring 2024, Delcy Morelos has discovered the specific use of straw and thatching techniques in Belgian housing architecture. Thatching is an old construction technique used both in Northern Europe and in tropical areas across the globe. It is still used today widely and qualifies as an innovative material in terms of ecological use. The technique is namely also used since centuries by Indigenous people in the Amazon Basin. The South American artist Delcy Morelos always starts her research from local techniques and materials for her new productions, and from there, she draws parallels with ancient cultures and traditions, often working around earth and smells to trigger unknown memories of Earth and culture.

Residency characteristics:

Bozar will facilitate collaboration between artist Delcy Morelos and scientific experts for her upcoming residency. While Morelos has extensive artistic experience, she will engage with the scientific community to develop her new project. Bozar, alongside her gallerist Carole Billy (LCC), will guide her through this process, leveraging Bozar’s extensive European and global networks.

The residency aims to foster interdisciplinary exchanges, with scientists, architects, engineers, and anthropologists contributing to Morelos’ research. These collaborations will infuse her project with robust scientific content. The residency will culminate in an installation at Bozar’s Horta Hall in Summer 2026, focusing on themes such as sustainability, low-tech architecture, and Indigenous culture in a decolonizing context.

The residency includes flexible scientific involvement, with at least 2-3 in-person meetings over the nine months, supplemented by online discussions. This project is part of Bozar’s commitment to future-thinking, addressing both local and global challenges.