GRACIELA
CIPPARONE
SVARRE

This multi-media documentary project is a collaboration between Grace Cipparone Svarre and Visual Historian Sarah Borealis. It draws from Grace’s journals, photos, audio recordings, and correspondence as well as in-depth interviews to create a multi-sensory narrative of the years the artist lived in the Lacandon Rainforest. It is the first to shed light on her intimate relationship with the community leading up to a critical moment in modern history: when the forest was invaded by outsiders and the sacred mahogany trees were decimated by logging interests. Grace lived in Naha with the Lacandon Maya at a moment when their ancient way of life became emblematic of the ongoing struggle between tradition and modernity in modern Mexico.

"Though I had done some rather insane things in my life, I thought my love of material comforts and the finer things would always have been foremost in my mind. Then something completely unanticipated took place and I was to experience the richest and fullest years of my life... almost three years of love and tenderness as well as mud, insects, rats, sickness and intrigue; kidnapping and prison. An experience that gave me much, and altered my worldview in many ways."
-Grace Cipparone Svarre