The Bestiari project, directed by the artist Carlos Casas, represented Catalonia at the 2024 Venice Biennale of Art, immersing visitors in an environment of sounds and images evoking animals and creatures that inhabit the natural and imaginary landscapes of Catalonia. This audiovisual project, inspired by a medieval text in which talking animals demand justice between species, has been one of the most notable in contemporary art in relation to nature and culture.

This academic year, Cultura UPF continues the project through the Animalesc programme, coordinated by the Vice-Rectorate for Culture and SACU, with a series of artistic, cultural, and academic activities that delve into the relationships between animals, humans, and nature. The belief that studying animals can help us better understand our humanity is the guiding thread of these initiatives.

Among the most notable activities this week, two proposals stand out, featuring members of the CINEMA group:

• Wednesday 12th March at 12:00 pm: "Nature and the Anthropocene", a retrospective of Carlos Casas’ film work, followed by a roundtable with Communication professors Santiago Fillol, Ariadna Cordal, and the artist. This event will take place in the En Construcción room at the Communication Campus.

• Thursday 13th March at 6:00 pm: "The Dispute of the Animals", an audition of the central piece from Bestiari at the Venice Biennale, with a presentation of the work and the Animalesc programme by Vice-Rector for Culture, Raquel Bouso, Carlos Casas, and Pol Capdevila. Location: To be confirmed.

These activities will provide a unique opportunity to engage with Carlos Casas’ work and explore the intersection of sound art, evolutionary biology, and new immersive technologies.