Chile had around 1,200 secret prisons and detention centers where people were tortured, of which more than 220 were located in Santiago. Two of those have been declared Places of Remembrance, namely Villa Grimaldi and London 38. Sadly, only those two receive support from the government.
As documented in the case of Borgoño 1470, today’s headquarters of the police, other places of torture have since been used by the military or the police. One of those places “3- and 4 Alamos” is still being used as a juvenile detention center.
Many of such places of torture, vividly remembered by many victims, are now in private ownership, such as Venda Sexy in Santiago. Of those Colonia Dignidad is probably the best known and most notorious. Both the Chilean and German governments have only recently began to take responsibility for their actions and inactions, and have initiated measures to begin a reappraisal of the past.
It was in the interest of the Chilean dictatorship to remove any traces of imprisonment and torture, hence the disappearance of many – if not most – of those places that served as detention centres.
However, the willingness of survivors and family members of victims to retain those centers as memorials for future generations remains unbroken. Thanks to the tireless work of many groups of survivors and their families it has become possible to protect those torture centers from further neglect and destruction.
Today, more than ever, it is up to us all to protect those historic places from complete destruction. My work provides photo documentation of 13 places of murder and torture, ten of them in Santiago, one in Parral (Colonia Dignidad), others in Valparaiso (Silva Palma Barracks) and Punta Arenas (Palace of Smiles).
The photo documents are further enhanced by portraits of about 20 witnesses and their reports. I would like to dedicate this project to the people who were murdered and to the survivors of the Pinochet dictatorship.
I am indebted to the many courageous men and women who for more that 45 years have been fighting for justice and recognition by the government and by the general public.
The fate of all victims should never be forgotten.

José Giribás Marambio
Photographer

The exhibition is part of EMOP Berlin — EUROPEAN MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY 2018.

Framework program

The project is also on view at Haus der Bundespressekonferenz (Schiffbauerdamm 40, 10117 Berlin).
Opening Reception: Tuesday, Sep 11, 2018, 5 pm
Exhibition: Sep 12 — 25, 2018.

Framework events at Galerie Tapir

Artist Talk & Guided Tour (in German): Wednesday, Oct 10, 2018, 7 pm
Artist Talk & Guided Tour (in Spanish): Wednesday, Oct 17, 2018, 7 pm
Finissage: Sunday, Oct 21, 2018, 5 pm

Abendveranstaltung Podiumsgespräch

„Orte der Repression in Chile zwischen 1973 und 1990 und ihre Bedeutung als Erinnerungsorte bis heute“
Podiumsgespräch am Montag, 1. Oktober 2018, 18:00 Uhr.
Das Gespräch findet auf Spanisch statt.
Veranstaltungsort: Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut / Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Potsdamer Str. 37
D, 10785 Berlin).

Gesprächsteilnehmer*Innen:
Dr. Elke Gryglewski, Stv. Direktorin, Haus der Wannseekonferenz (politisch-historische Perspektive)
Evelyn Hevia Jordán, Psychologin (Orte der Erinnerung)
Samuel Houston Dreckmann, Zeitzeuge.
Moderation: Dr. Peter Birle (Wissenschaftlicher Direktor IAI)

Oct 1 — 21, 2018
Opening Reception: Sunday, Sep 30, 5 pm
+ Framework program: please see above

Galerie Tapir

Neue Hochstraße 8, 13347 Berlin
[Gesundbrunnen | Mitte]

Opening hours: Wed – Sat 4 – 7:30 pm

Admission free