Exiles, Art, and Political Activism: Fighting the Pinochet Regime from Afar

Chileans exiled during the Pinochet dictatorship used art (arpilleras) from the shantytowns of Santiago in their efforts to bring about a return to democracy in Chile. What was the significance of their doing so? From the exiles’ perspective, selling the art helped inform the public in their host countries about suffering caused by the dictatorship, it helped raise money to send back to shantytown women and the resistance movement, and it helped foster collective organizing and solidarity in Chile. Engaging in art-centred political activism was also important for the exiles themselves, as it made them feel they were ‘solidarios’ (compassionate and helping the resistance), politically active still, and engaged in the pro-democracy struggle. Furthermore, it helped them overcome trauma, giving meaning to their exile, and making them feel less isolated. These various meanings that exiles attributed to their political work with art were influenced by feelings of guilt, purposelessness, and a sense of rupture with past lives.