Chilean Design, while certainly not visible on the scale that one has come to expect in places like Berlin, Rotterdam or Copenhagen, is most definitely on the rise. Young, inspired artists from all over the country are converging in the capital and slowly setting the scene for what could prove to be a design powerhouse someday.
At first glance Santiago may seem quite devoid of authentic Chilean influence, with bland dime-a-dozen highrises and American-style shopping complexes outnumbering and overshadowing the limited number of historic buildings which have survived the past decade of modernization. By throwing its doors open to principles of free market capitalism Chile has scrambled up the ladder of economic prosperity, leaving it’s neighboring countries like Peru and Argentina in the dust. But this surge of wealth comes with a hefty price tag and unforeseen repercussions, one of which being an unchecked amount of coca-colonialism leading to the steady erosion of Chilean identity from the face of this and many of her other cities.
Fortunately, an ever-growing number of young Chileans is starting to find its voice and reclaim its identity with methods far-removed from the student protests which have been rocking the country with little to no progress for over a year now. Rather than take to the streets, they rock up to the ateliers to speed along the progression of change and innovation this country so direly needs through a flux of creativity. Made in Chile is becoming a concept that not only sells, but also inspires, and that could very well change more than just the Santiago skyline someday.