During his residency at Collegium, Shinji Nagabe developed a project focused on the Treaty of Tordesillas, ratified in Arévalo in 1494, and its implications for collective memory and the notion of borders. The proposal took shape in a collective tapestry measuring around 20 meters in length, created in sewing workshops with the participation of local residents. The tapestry combines images of objects found in Arévalo with their counterparts in Brazil, arranged in halves that evoke both fragmentation and connection between the two territories. The residency also included photographic walks to gather visual materials, community sewing sessions, and a video on the notion of border. The final installation was be presented in Arévalo’s Plaza de la Villa, inviting a shared reflection on past and present borders, as well as on the ways history continues to shape today’s social and cultural ties.

Born in São Paulo (Brazil) in 1981, Shinji Nagabe is an artist of Japanese descent who has lived in Europe since 2014. His work, shaped by the migrant experience and the exploration of identity, combines photography, accessible materials, and collective interventions. He has received awards such as the Maison Blanche Prize in Marseille and the Gávea Photography Prize, and has exhibited in leading festivals and institutions internationally. He is currently represented by Galerie 193 in Paris.