TED Talks Daily A futuristic vision for Latin America, rooted in ancient design | Catalina Lotero
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Apr 4, 2024 
Catalina Lotero, a designer exploring 'pre-Columbian futurism,' engages listeners with intriguing visions of a Latin America enriched by its ancient civilizations. She discusses how colonization disrupted indigenous cultural narratives and how reclaiming these influences can shape modern aesthetics. Lotero highlights the importance of blending ancient wisdom, like the symbolism of the jaguar, with cutting-edge design to foster innovation. Her insights inspire a new appreciation for the region’s cultural heritage, aiming to redefine Latin American identity for the future.
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Tatami Room Inspiration
- Catalina Lotero lived in Japan and admired their aesthetic confidence, especially in spaces like tatami rooms.
- This sparked a search for equivalent meaningful spaces in her own Latin American culture.
Impact of Colonization
- Lotero realized she couldn't identify similar cultural touchstones in Latin America due to colonization.
- Colonization erased much of Latin America's pre-Columbian knowledge and traditions.
Pre-Columbian Futurism
- Pre-Columbian futurism imagines how Latin American aesthetics would have evolved without colonization.
- This involves exploring pre-colonial artifacts and rituals to create modern designs inspired by the past.