• The role of artists is the role of dreaming. I've worked as a poet, as a multimedia artist, sound artist, storyteller. I think we hold the capacity to shape the narratives that build our present, our future, reshape the narratives that inform our past. I still believe in that role. I do believe that we have a call to work on the episteme, this epistemological call, this call to investigate the ideas, the words and the shapes that build our relationships. I think if we can do that alone, dreaming of a new reality, dreaming of futurities, dreaming of dialogue… I think that's a good path for us artists.

Rafael Zen is a queer Latinx video and sound artist and performer, currently living in the land of the Coast Salish peoples, otherwise known as Vancouver. We were both part of an event at Emily Carr University of Art and Design called Listening in Relationthat expanded upon listening practices and ecological art by exploring decolonization through thought and practices of IBPoC artists. I asked Rafael about their work in new media, performance art, and in particular their understanding of decolonization and decolonial resistance. 

Show notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Action points

• Embrace the role of an artist as a dreamer, shaping and reshaping narratives of the past, present, and future.
• Investigate the impact of colonial capitalism and its effect on our ability to envision solutions and equitable futures.
• Utilize sound and immersive installations to raise awareness of presence and challenge dominant structures.
• Trust your artistic vision and use storytelling to foster dialogue and connection within local communities.
• Identify your non-negotiables to guide your art and activism toward decolonization and meaningful change.

Story Preview

What if art could awaken us from our colonial capitalist slumber? Rafael Zen, a visionary artist, invites us to dream of radical futures through sound, performance, and unwavering conviction. This episode explores how art can provoke dialogue, challenge ideologies, and pave the way for meaningful change, one non-negotiable at a time.

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Dreaming Role of Artists
01:10 Exploring Decolonization in Art
03:01 Hauntology and Futurity
05:06 The Malfunctioning Cyborg
06:44 Listening as a Tool for Awareness
08:52 Art as a Catalyst for Change

Featured Quotes

• The role of artists is the role of dreaming.
• How can we, as a community, dream of…queer futurities, but it can be radical equality, radical futures, equitable futures.
• Don’t negotiate the non-negotiable. (quoting Lélia Gonzalez)

Behind the Story

Rafael Zen’s work is deeply rooted in cyborg theory, speculative environmental utopias, and Brazilian indigenous theory. Zen draws inspiration from thinkers like Ailton Krenak and Mark Fisher, crafting art that challenges audiences to confront the devastation caused by colonial capitalism. By creating immersive installations and using sound as a democratic medium, Zen aims to provoke dialogue and foster a sense of presence, ultimately inviting listeners to reimagine a world free from oppression and violence.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 8, 2025