MAHICO Festival Interview - Katherine Gailer

Hola Katherine! Thanks for taking the time to sit down with us here at Mahico HQ. You have been based in Melbourne for some time now. Can you talk about your Colombian heritage and your approach of weaving creativity, community building and celebrating Latin culture whilst being based on the other side of the globe?

Creativity was the first language that allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds in Australia. Through painting, music, and gathering, I have been able to tell the story of our Latin American land, sharing the vibrant and diverse aspects of our heritage with the broader Australian community. I am fascinated by the power that art and music have in bringing people together, allowing our curiosity to discover new cultures and create new connections. My journey has been one of cultural exchange, embracing the beauty of our Latin American roots while weaving them into the vibrant tapestry of Australia's multicultural fabric.

We are super excited to host you and your band Amaru Tribe for the 3rd time at Mahico. Our Mahico regulars really love the energy and the colour you guys bring to the stage . What have you guys been up to of late? I have heard murmurs of a new Album in the works. Tell us more…

In the past months, we have been working on our live show, as well as creating new music. It is incredible to discover new sounds, as well as the energy that bursts while performing and interacting with the public. I feel that the circular energy created between the audience and us during our live gigs has inspired a lot of the new music we are offering. And yes! A new album is cooking as we speak

Most would know you as the female lead singer of Amaru Tribe but in addition to this you work across other artistic mediums such as large-scale mural painting, oil painting and design. Tell us a little about you other artistic expressions off the stage?

Funny enough, most people know me as a visual artist and then find out that I sing... hehe!

I like describing my work as dreamlike compositions that tell stories. My work often reveals the mutual flourishing between worlds: diverse cultural perspectives, past and present, and the inner and outer spiritual realms. Through my work, I celebrate resilience and liberation, echoing the urgent need to restore the invisible fabric that weaves together humans and nature.

Deeply rooted in my cultural heritage and the magical realism movement I was immersed in during my upbringing, my work is also shaped by Latin America’s rich iconography, symbols, and textile aesthetics. Rediscovering a sense of the sacred and revisiting our ancient past embodies the driving force for the development of my artworks.

We have special things in store for our upcoming festival at The Green Room the home home of Blues Fest,  including our collaboration of art curation in the space with you.  What can our Mahico familia expect to see visually?

Mahico family! You can expect a vibrant combination of colors, symbols, and iconographies that will allow us to stand right on top of the bridge between Latin America and Australia.

We are beyond excited to have you guys closing our Mahico festival! We have become accustomed to Amaru’s colourful and vibrant performances over the past years. What can we expect from you guys on January 27th?

Our show is continuously evolving, and this time we are bringing new material that is part of our upcoming album. Additionally, this will be the first time the Mahico Family will see our collaborator Kathleen Gonzalez. She is an incredible Ethnodancer, and we cannot wait to perform with her at Mahico Festival.