Everyday “Quetzalidad”: An Artistic Exploration Workshop

Throughout history, birds have played an important role in shaping national identities, becoming symbols of freedom, belonging, and hope. In Guatemala, the quetzal transcends its natural existence to inhabit collective imaginaries, historical narratives, and multiple expressions of everyday life. But what does this bird truly mean to those who encounter its image day after day? How is its symbolism constructed and transformed over time?

Conceived and led by artist Sergio Rojas Chaves, drawing on the research he is currently conducting as part of his artist residency at La Nueva Fábrica, Everyday “Quetzalidad” offers a space for collective exploration of these questions through drawing, modeling, and writing exercises. Drawing on memory, imagination, and personal experiences, participants are invited to reinterpret the figure of the quetzal and explore the different ways this bird inhabits their individual imaginaries.

The workshop seeks to open conversations about our relationship with natural symbols and their influence on the construction of identity, inviting us to question and reinvent the meanings we attribute to the species with which we share our territories.

No previous experience in drawing, modeling, or writing is necessary. All experience levels are welcome.