INTRODUCTION
Curious.
Ambivert.
Active member
of communities.
Hi, I’m Berenice Zambrano — I work in design, art, and facilitate collective processes. I was born in Tabasco (1987, Mexico) and now live in Spain. My work sits at the intersection of speculative design, visual art, and collective processes. I’m inspired by the Souths as territories of celebration and resistance — of which I’m also a part — as well as Oaxaca, hammocks, mango season, bicycles, the fungal world, and music genres like techno, ambient, and cumbia. Voices that resonate with me include Arturo Escobar, Brian Eno, Donna Haraway, Isaura Leonardo, Yásnaya E. Gil, Alf Bojórquez, Gabriela Jáuregui, Javier Raya, and Brenda Navarro.
I’ve worked on projects around participation, narratives, and the climate crisis in Latin America, Europe, and Africa; more recently, I collaborated with the Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo in Madrid and the Universidad Autónoma de México (Lerma campus). I am currently developing Workshops Against Despair, a series of workshops to research and create collective futuristic fables exploring ecofiction, post-Capitalocene perspectives, and the living archive. These workshops have been held at the Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca, the Centro de Cultura Digital, the Centro Cultural Tlatelolco, among others.
Although many institutional practices have disappointed me socially, I firmly believe in the transformative power of the collective. And when I speak of the collective, I don’t mean simply the sum of individuals, but building from complicity, listening, the exchange of care...
When I’m not designing, in a workshop, or taking photos, I’m probably out walking — on foot or by bike — visiting friends, meeting new people, eating a mango, dancing, reading, drawing, swimming, or taking a nap… ;)
sharing is caring
Brain food
Reading
This is a mirror, Likana Cana,
An exploration book.
Autonomy and Design, Arturo Escobar,
Explores civilizational transitions, autonomy, and communal design as key strategies for reimagining societies beyond state intervention. These are the main themes of the book: civilizational transitions, the ontological approach, design for transitions, and the relationship between autonomy, design, and communal logics that lie at the heart of people's struggles.
¿Nunca más un México sin nosotros?, Yásnaya Elena A. Gil,
One of the theses the author proposes to reimagine México is this: after the dismantling of nationalist discourses and practices, there remains a confederation of autonomous communities capable of managing communal life without state institutions' intervention.
Utopia for the Elites, Dystopia for the Masses, Layla Martínez,
The stumbles in the space race by Silicon Valley's visionary billionaires do not lessen the gravity of the ideology behind these projects of private space conquest.
A Year with Swollen Appendices, Brian Eno,
The first part is a diary covering the year 1995, the second part, the 'swollen appendices' of the title is a collection of essays, short stories and correspondence. It was re-released with a new introduction by the author in 2021.
Silence. Lectures and writtings, John Cage,
Silence is a collection of essays and lectures Cage wrote during the period from 1939 to 1961.
Listening
Un sueño largo, ancho y hondo,
A schizoid monologue exploring culture and fire through an anarchic, small-town lens.
Rico y bonito,
A space where sexologist César Galicia and journalist Paola Aguilar, who are also a couple, reflect and rethink the ways we love, have sex, and relate. They discuss topics such as non-monogamy, jealousy, sexuality, and adult friendships, exploring new forms of love, tenderness, and pleasure.
Salud mental para el fin del mundo,
Topics such as the affective revolution, liberation psychology, and emotional inequality are discussed, offering critical perspectives and tools for emotional well-being in times of uncertainty.
El club de fans del planeta tierra
A podcast about caring for Earth—the most fascinating planet we know of. This is the planet that writes the best music, puts on the best concerts, and has the most stunning choreography.
Humo
Signals for other possible worlds is a podcast featuring conversations between Pablo Montaño, Yásnaya Aguilar, and Carlos Tornell, along with various guests. It seeks to reflect on the evident failure of the international community, states, and corporations to address the climate crisis, pointing to the fact that global warming is a symptom of the collapse of capitalist modernity (capitalism aided by a colonial and patriarchal enterprise). The podcast argues that alternatives toward a less heated future will only be viable from worlds beyond capitalism.
“In a Land of Clear Colours”
Speculative science fiction sound piece created by Robert Sheckley and Brian Eno. It blends spoken narration, musical ambience, and immersive sound textures to immerse us in an imaginary world where the sensory and the narrative intertwine. It’s a contemplative, poetic, and strangely moving listening experience—ideal for those who enjoy slow, philosophical stories rich in atmosphere. Perfect for listening with headphones and letting yourself drift.
Watching
How to with John Wilson,
Even if you think you’ve got it all figured out, there’s a million ways to get it wrong. How To with John Wilson, it’s a docu-comedy.
Anne with a E,
A period drama loosely adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 classic children's book, Anne of Green Gables.
Linda Linda Linda, by Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita,
A group of girls forms a band for their school festival, facing friendship and musical challenges.
The Scent of Green Papaya, Directed by Trần Anh Hùng,
A subtle and poetic journey of growth and healing, symbolized through colors, toads, and broken vases. The film delicately portrays grief, love, and maturity through the life of Mui, a young servant whose presence brings transformation and hope to a family burdened by regret and heartbreak.
Atlanta, Directed by Donald Glover
Atlanta blends captivating drama with absurd humor, balancing gritty realism and surrealism. Through Earn's struggles with poverty and fatherhood, the show explores grounded characters amid fantastical situations that constantly shift tone and perspective.
Drive my car, Directed by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi
A widowed actor and a young chauffeur develop a deep, unexpected bond in Hiroshima, as they confront grief, healing, and self-discovery.