Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau’s interdisciplinary practice spans cinema, video art, installation, and performance, with a focus on queer decoloniality. The Berlin and Bogotá-based artist concentrates on inventing myths and utopias inspired by rural and urban cultures in Colombia that move away from hegemonic discourses. In doing so, they create works and collaborations with racialized artists and communities that have been historically made invisible, especially Emberá & Wayúu, sexual dissident non-binary bodies (including themselves), and rebellious LatinX trans women.

A co-founder and artistic director of transnational German-Colombian association Atelier Lapaetau, Simon(e) completed their studies in Media Art at KHM Cologne and Film at EICTV Cuba. Their films have premiered at BFI London, New York Film Festival, documenta14, New Directors/New Films MoMa, and Rotterdam, and garnered awards and nominations at Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Cartagena International Film Festival, and Cannes Film Festival.  Performances and installations have premiered at HKW,  Gropius Bau, Wexner Center of the Arts, Monitoring Kasseler Dokfest, Ballhaus Naunynstrasse, Cinemateca de Bogotá, and the 11th Berlin Biennale, as well as their first solo exhibition at Berlinische Galerie.

As of April 2024