Ilona Goyeneche on Santiago: “The Chileans Always Pick Themselves Back Up”
Glance down a side street – Santiago de Chile (Photo: iStock)
7 February 2012
Chile is a country of extremes: icebergs in the south, probably the world’s driest desert in the north. And right in the middle is Santiago, a place where many new things are created, as Ilona Goyeneche of the local Goethe-Institut reports.
What can we learn from the people in Santiago?
The Chilean people are very easily enthusiastic and have deep bonds with their homeland. And they are very strong in adversity. Just think about how often the country is hit by disasters: earthquakes, volcano eruptions, the miners’ accident in the north – the Chileans always pick themselves back up. We could all really learn from their courage, their strength, and energy.
What is your own favourite place in Santiago?
My very own favourite place is the neighbourhood of Providencia, where I live. The reason is that slowly, a kiez is developing here. More and more young people are moving in, cafés are being opened, people know one another and a bicycle culture is developing – something entirely new in Santiago.
Santiago after a rainy day (Photo: Ignacio Muñoz)
What are the people in Santiago concerned most about right now?
All of the public institutions are losing more and more credibility – the government and even the church. Citizens can no longer identify with them and are taking on a new role. Today’s Chileans make demands and defend themselves against inacceptable circumstances. The citizens’ movement is becoming very strong. Current concerns are, for example, the environment and, in particular, education. Then, of course, there’s the students’ movement, which has formed in recent years. Last year a number of schools were closed. Education is very expensive in Chile and sadly also often of poor quality. The Chileans are not going to just take that anymore.
Theatre-lover Goyeneche: “I’ll even go to the theatre after an 18-hour flight.” (Photo: Barbara San Martin)
I am often asked whether the Germans are really as fuddy-duddy as they seem. There’s an expression used here, called cuadrado. It literally means square. The people ask me whether the Germans are really so stiff, fuddy-duddy and precise. When it comes to planning and punctuality, there really is a very big difference between Germans and Chileans. But, I always answer that they should get to know the Germans better, then they would see that it isn’t so.
What would you like most to still experience in Santiago?
Recently, Santiago and Chile have been experiencing a boom in new cultural institutions. What I would very much like to experience is that the cultural events and highlights be better distributed throughout the year. The arts happen here in a very concentrated way, most things are on in January. I would also like to see more support from private businesses and from the government.
The south of Chile: the Torres del Paine (Photo: Reinhard Maiworm)
Why do Chileans learn German?
Most of the Chileans who come to the Goethe-Institut wish to study in Germany. Then there are always students who want to learn German for their work or daily lives. Recently, we have also increasingly seen an interest by artists, theatre-makers, festival directors, and cultural mediators in learning German. They have the feeling they can benefit from the language in their work and in direct dialogue. To better implement the plays and to better understand the German culture with which they are confronted.
What cultural highlight should visitors to Santiago be sure not to miss?
The cultural highlight in Santiago is the Festival Internacional Santiago a Mil (Santiago International Theatre Festival), which has been held every January since 1993. It presents not only theatre but also dance. The Goethe-Institut is actively involved in it. We’ve had guests such as Constanza Macras, Sasha Waltz, and Pina Bausch. The music branch of the festival is also constantly growing. This festival has made a major mark on the Santiago arts scene. At the same time, the video biennial and two major film festivals are also taking place.
The Atacama in the north of Chile – the world’s driest desert (Photo: Reinhard Maiworm)
What Chilean book should we be reading?
People should really get to know the work of Nicanor Parra. He is a Chilean poet and artist with incredible black humour. He not only writes, but also works in drawings and small installations. He received the 2011 Cervantes Prize and was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is presently the artist who best represents what is Chilean. Some of his books have also been translated into English.
What do you look forward to most when you come to Germany?
The theatre and dance. I’ll even go directly to the theatre after an 18-hour flight to see a four-hour play.
Patrizia Barba asked the questions.
Ilona Goyeneche, 35, was born in Chile of an Austrian mother and a Chilean father of German origin. She studied journalism and cultural management and, before coming to the Goethe-Institut, worked for local daily newspapers and as an online editor. She began working for the Goethe-Institut Santiago in 2008 where she is responsible for the division of theatre and dance, for exhibitions and for press and public relations.
