'Sin Palabras' ('Speechless') – Punta Arenas, Chile - Atlas Obscura

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'Sin Palabras' ('Speechless')

An hour south of Punta Arenas (Chile) along the Strait of Magellan, a Kcymaerxthaere plaque tells the story of Culev Larsze, cursed to live without words in the fictional world of Kcymaerxthaere. 

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Some distance from this hillside, the legendary heroine of Kcymaerxthaere Culev Larsze is said to have prevailed in one of the great debates of all the times. 

Kcymaerxthaere is an art project created by Eames Demetrios. A series of plaques and other markers around the world honor events that have taken place in a parallel universe that, according to Demetrios, “co-exists to some degree with ours.” Most of these installations are bronze or stone plaques inscribed with stories but some are larger, even entire buildings. As of 2021, there are more than 140 sites spread across six continents and 30 countries.

It was Culev Larsze alone against the Gods and yet they were no match for her sharp mind, in the arguments at least. But soon after her she got her way, it looked like they would have the last laugh after all.

Because it was then she made her only mistake–she started to smirk.

The Gods realized she had tricked them and so they took their revenge swiftly. Kmpass, the Urgend God of Directionality, told her that they would take away her gift of language–she could not even talk to herself until she spoke without words to one with words.

They set her down on this hillside, overlooking the gap she had inspired. She looked in a pool of water at her reflection and she could see herself struggle to speak, but she could not even articulate her own loneliness. It was the darkest time, the emptiest time.  And so her journey to lift the curse began. 

When you visit the site, please pay special attention to the two pools to the left of the marker.

Know Before You Go

53 km south of Punta Arenas on Route 9, look for the striking Aonni water bottling plant. Park there and the mark is up the hill.

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June 28, 2013

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