"SensibilizaARTE" Gathers 115 Urban Artists for Environmentally Themed Urban Art Contest

In order to draw public attention and to help the public reassess their relation to water resources, 115 artists from different parts of Perú applied to the SensibilizARTE urban art contest under the theme “We are water, we are art,” directed by the Aquafondo Organization.

The event lasted 4 weeks; and, in the first stage, young people from Lima and surrounding areas presented  sketches of their work with the message of preservation of  resources. From these applicants, 15 finalists were in charged with painting the facade of the Manuel Bonilla sports complex during the final weekend. In a ceremony and after a difficult deliberation, the jury selected 3 winners, which received prizes in cash, trophies, and home appliances.

The activity served as a means to highlight the value of our vital natural resources and to bring to the fore issues affecting both public and private institutions through the medium of street art. The final results proved to many how gratifying it can be to utilize both art and knowledge to help protect the resources of our the planet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


"Lima Mural Project" Adds Four New Gigantic Paintings in the Streets of Lima

This year’s third edition of the Peruvian urban art festival organized by the “Lima Mural Project” collective is jam-packed with color and supported by the Municipality of Miraflores where four new large-format murals have been added to the city of Lima.

The smallest piece is a geometric abstract work that runs nine meters and three meters high. It is a sequence of lines performed by Nyeth, an artist who has been painting in the city for 24 years, working to improve its vulnerable areas and adapting his brush to urban typography.

In contrast to this, towering a respectable seventeen meters high and nine meters wide, Conrad Florez opts for a graffiti technique when stamping his (mainly psychedelic) vision on the walls of the city. Through the use of strong colors that transmit life and futuristic vibes, he has infused his canvas with a number of fantastical characters.

Next up, an even larger work over twenty-five meters high and along a fifteen-meter wide base, Dear Lozada has created a reinterpretation of the plant kingdom in abstract. The rectilinear images contained within the piece suggest a dialogue with the organic world, creating a balance that does not overstep the bounds of other, but rather complements surrounding elements in favor of harmony.

Finally, with overflowing forty-five meters of height and thirty meters wide, Edwin Higuchi Fernández (a.k.a Pésimo) decided to render an image of an indigenous mystic who treasures a heart in her hands with eyes closed. A possible representation that “seeing with the heart” is a way of recognizing the feelings and what is not seen with the naked eye.

With the addition of these works, the Lima Mural Project once again succeeded in populating the city with brand new creations that add to an imaginary landscape; where the literal and concrete become juxtaposed and harmonized with the ethereal and fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Urban Art Program "Pinta San Luis" Receives Muralists and Graffiti Artists From All Corners of Argentina

A joint effort between the Government of the San Luis province and the Municipality of Villa Mercedes hosted artists from across Argentina for 4 days. After a difficult deliberation, entries by 30 artists were selected from among almost 90 with themes that included depictions of fauna,  environmental awareness, and 3D painting.

The staff of the Design and Art Program “Pinta San Luis”, said that it was not an easy task because the level of the artists who presented was very high and it was difficult to make the decision to weed out proposals. Finally, they decided to opt for as many different artistic styles as possible after studying the portfolios of each artist and considering their experience. It’s worth noting that the beautification project of Pinta San Luis not only has an aesthetic purpose but also that of protecting buildings from humidity and other environmental factors, so this was also taken into account when choosing the type of painting that would be used.

San Luis, at the heart of Argentina, was be able to receive muralists and graffiti artists from all corners of the country, creating the perfect opportunity to enrich the lives of local inhabitants through exposure to art and the fresh colors artists brought to the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Street Artist José Gallino Responds After Controversy Regarding His Murals in Montevideo

After his work at the headquarters of the Artigas Professors Institute (IPA), where he made a mural of Antonio Grompone, street artist José Gallino was criticized by the History Institute of the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urbanism (FADU). “It is not a canvas” was the title of a statement issued on August 30 by the Institute, which questioned “a series of murals made in various party walls under the signature of Gallino.”

Gallino defended his work and stated that he preferred murals rather than all-gray buildings, or to have walls in poor condition, additionally, emphasized that he only painted in walls in which he had permission from the owners and was paid by them.

Despite his defense of street art, which he considers “fundamental in the country”, the muralist clarified that he also defends the protection of heritage buildings, so instead of criticizing his work, the focus should be aimed at restoring buildings in poor condition.

Given this, the FADU still maintains that, architecture is another form of expression that could end up overshadowed by so many murals, and makes us wonder about its road ahead in relation to street art. Additionally, the content of the murals was about faces of famous people from Uruguay, including politicians of diverse ideologies, something that could easily generate polemic since there are so many points of view.

Gallino clarified that he does not feel attacked by the Institute’s statement or by the controversy, but affirmed that before protesting, proposals should be presented and that an open mind is required to discuss this type of issue.

 

 

 

 


San Cristóbal Hill to be Turned Into a Gigantic Mural by Local Artists

San Cristóbal Hill, an emblematic attraction of Lima, will become a gigantic artistic mural of more than 300 thousand square meters thanks to the talent of local artists. This creation can be seen from different points of the capital and is an initiative supported by the Municipality of Lima and the artistic collectives Color Energía and Aporta.

The mural, as part of the commemoration of the Bicentennial, is currently underway with over 50 percent of the houses painted. Undertaken by a group of Peruvian muralists who are embellishing the facades of the houses in the vicinity, when completed the project is thought to be one of the largest murals in the world.

The mural project represents immense Chakanas that symbolize the connection of San Cristóbal Hill with the community focussed on collective growth and prosperity. It also is meant to draw attention to the cultural heritage and identity of the residents of the area and its purpose is to highlight the union through color.

In general, the project aims to help transform public perception based on the promotion of a sense of pride and belonging through the stories that the murals tell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Martín Ron Presents a New Gigantic Mural in Bernal, Buenos Aires

After finishing a childhood-themed double mural this past month, the muralist Martín Ron made news again thanks to his new piece located in Buenos Aires. The Argentine artist recently inaugurated a truly impressive and beautiful mural in a building on San Martin Avenue of the Bernal province.

His most recent work shows a young woman using a metallic colored balloon as a kind of mirror in which she can see her face. According to the artist when sharing his piece on social media, magic, illusion, reflections, and gaze are some keywords that he had in mind when creating this work, but it is still open to individual interpretations, as can be said of the majority of his works.

Martín Ron is known as one of the ten best muralists in the world, starting at a young age, he participated in numerous interventions in subway stations in neighborhoods around Buenos Aires. With international recognition, he has painted murals in cities such as London, Tallinn, Penang, Bristol, Miami, Tenerife, Bremen, and Glauchau, bringing color and life to the streets. His large-scale works are characterized by the hyper-realistic style, with the use of strong colors, textures, and elements of everyday life. He generally uses a 3D painting technique, giving his work more realism. He is also an avid canvas painter on a smaller scale, but with many of the elements that characterize his style still present.


New 20-meters-high Nelson Mandela Mural Stands Out in the Capital of Uruguay

The face of the great South African champion against Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, stands out today in a large mural that the Uruguayan artist José Gallino painted in a central corner of Montevideo to pay tribute to that world personality.

After a recent trip to Europe, it didn't take Gallino long to get back to work in his home country on his largest composition to date. Standing 20 meters in height, he was able to complete it in 5 days with minimal rest and using photographs as a guide to generate textures, tones, and volume in his aerosol work towards his usual proximity to reality.

A self-taught artist from the region of Salto, Gallino began his career in the world of graffiti in 2013, and became fascinated by the activity and opportunities offered by street art. Since then, he has been exponentially developing his technique, achieving a large-scale portrait style that positions him as one of the best graffiti artists in the country and in the world.

A number of Gallino's creations can be found in the city of Montevideo, for which he has gained a great deal of praise and recognition. Many of his works are a reflection of the national culture and everyday people, not only detailing historical events but also acting as a record of the present. Recently however, Gallino chose to incorporate figures of international relevance who have left important marks on the international stage, with Nelson Mandela being chosen on this occasion. Additionally, another mural by Gallino is on the way just next to Mandela’s, this one, for Malala Yousafzai.


With Focus on Cultural Heritage, Work on the Largest Mural in the Bío Bío Region of Chile has been Completed

Work on the largest mural in the Bío Bío region of Chile has been completed in the city of Lota, with the title “Lota, Heartbeats for a New Generation.” A work that seeks to recognize, among other things, the importance of local women and portray the historical context of the commune.

The initiative also had the support of the ProCultura Foundation and the local municipality. The mural depicts those trades carried out by women from Lota such as laundresses, potters, and bakers, that are part of the so-called “intangible heritage of Lota.”

The mural is now the biggest in the Bío Bío region and measures 9.50 meters high and 48 meters long, containing the most representative figures of Lota’s daily life. The work was led by the artist Luis Núñez, who stressed that it was possible to meet the established deadlines despite sanitary restrictions and it is expected that in the next few days the inauguration will take place.

It is important to consider that Lota is being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since it contains great historical monuments such as the Isidora Cousiño Park, the Chiflón del Diablo Mine, and the Lota Historical Museum. For this reason artist chose this city for this prestigious event and, through their efforts, hope to continue adding to the artistic tradition that has endured for centuries.


A Call for Colombian Environmental Art Begins, Sponsored by "Convocatoria VII Salón BAT de Arte Popular"

Amid the varied territories of Colombia flourish a group of people who, with the aim of conveying a message of identity, engage in a unique art form. These artists, using what they can find in their environment, transform waste and natural materials into art. Their works are often made with stones, clay, elastic bands, various fibers, and also remnants of paper, cloth, or pieces of tiles that they find.

Because of this, from April 14 until July 14 in the city of Bogotá, registrations are open for the Convocatoria VII Salón BAT de Arte Popular, in which environmental consciousness and urban art combine to reward muralism proposals with a focus on the preseervation of the environment, with special emphasis on theme and the materials used. This project is designed to highlight the responsibility that we all have in the care and preservation of the environment. The production is also aimed at promoting representations of the local culture; exalting the people as a product of their history, everyday lives, customs, and beliefs; strengthening the character of the national identity while calling for protections for the natural environment.

Artists from all corners of Colombia who are clear about the importance of preserving the environment and the possibility of transforming recycled materials into popular art are cordially invited and encouraged to participate in this event

The Convocatoria VII Salón BAT de Arte Popular seeks for all artists to be clear about the importance of preserving the environment, ecosystems and the possibility of finding in this space a platform for growth and visibility for their works. At the same time, this is one of the most significant strategies for the recovery of public space, since it generates actions that promote the exercise of an active, co-responsible, and participant citizenship in the creation of a better city.

The call is open and nationwide, with the selection of applicants taking place between 2021 and 2022, and the award event in 2022. The exhibitions will be accompanied by academic and pedagogical activities, as well as audiovisual and editorial productions.


After One Year Hiatus, Marin Ron Returns to Painting Giant Murals

Painted on a 65-meter wall in Bernal, Buenos Aires is the image of a little girl standing on tiptoes, the highest mural in the region. The girl is the center of the image of a monumental mural by Martín Ron, the Argentina artist recognized as one of the best urban artists in the world.

Martín returns to painting large-scale murals after spending some time with his “Independent Contest of Intervened Doors” this past year, an initiative that, for almost two weeks, brought together more than 320 colleagues who dared to creatively intervene in allotted spaces.

Author of more than 300 street paintings, on this occasion he used a mural he completed in March 2020 in the Banfield District of Buenos Aires as a reference for the new mural he created on a building nearby. The time between one and the other was exactly one year and the theme chosen by the artist is “children at play.” The first one of a boy in profile with a balloon on a 50-meter wall, and for the other, a girl stacking small bricks and building a wall on a 65-meter edifice.

The initial preparation of the wall was executed in four weeks, between January and February. Technical mastery and expert brushstroke were needed under the burning sun and frustrating rain, not to mention the constant vertigo due to hanging dozens of meters from the ground while raising and lowering the scaffolding attached to cables.

With completion of the design, the public space has been transformed to portray the idilic playfulness of childhood in magnificent proportions. Working from a stylistic repertoire of hyper-realism, surrealism, popular art, playful fantasy, and 3D; in this case Ron opts to bring a fair measure of literalism to his subjects, to allow the viewer to more easily relate to the composition.

The newly completed duo compose a visual dialogue with the urban landscape, and, if all goes according to plan, will soon welcome a new member as Martín already stated that this would be a trilogy of works with similar themes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Guayaquil Adds a New Mural with Help from 10 Children with Disabilities

In an atmosphere of camaraderie, fun, and creativity, a monkey, an iguana, a butterfly, a bird, and trees took shape with the contribution of 10 children, who have different types of disabilities, ranging from progressive muscular dystrophy to Down Syndrome. The mural was made in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil by the painter Andrés Franco, recognized in the art world as Andy Son. He is a teacher with close to 150 murals in the country, especially in Guayaquil, and has also painted murals in Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Perú.

Despite the challenge, the project helped the children learn the joy of expressing themselves through art. It was the first time they got to paint on a wall, after much practice on small paper sheets. Andy Son added the first sketch and the kids filled it in with color, with Andy adding the final touches.

The initiative was organized by Teleamazonas TV, with a vision of supporting inclusion in art. With the completion of this mural, passersby will now be able to enjoy a canvas painted with joy, thanks to the effort of these unique children.

The project ended with a local choir of blind people performing Notas de Luz to celebrate the completion of the mural.


Santiago Ciudad Galeria by Stanley Gonczanski Arrives in Chile

Starting Monday, February 22nd, the visual artist, filmmaker, and publicist Stanley Gonczanski will present his exhibition “Santiago Ciudad Galería,” an urban intervention of digital collage works on advertising posters distributed throughout different neighborhoods of Santiago de Chile. The exhibition plans to deliver a contribution of beauty and charm to the streets, after experiencing great success in Buenos Aires last year.

In an unprecedented alliance with the company Global, which manages various advertising spaces throughout Santiago de Chile. Stanley Gonczanski’s works will be part of an initiative that transforms those screens that are already part of the urban landscape into something more friendly.

Santiago Ciudad Galería was created to provide spaces of creativity and art to the common citizen through Stanley’s Almost Classic Collection, works that propose a reinvention with wit and satire. In his collection, Stanley takes iconic works from the Renaissance up to the 19th century and gives them a modern twist in order to reflect on what is happening to us as a society right now.

As mentioned above, the urban intervention already took place last year in Stanley’s hometown, Buenos Aires, where they included posters at 14 stations, this time however, the range has increased for a total of 66 stations in 12 communes.

Stanley Gonczanski’s international career has included exhibitions in London, Florence, Santiago de Chile, Miami, Dubai, and Taipei, and now in Santiago de Chile where his urban art gallery will offer subtle humor and powerful irony.


Mon Laferte Adds Two New Murals to Her First Outdoor Exhibition in Valparaiso

Mon Laferte is in Chile to hold her first outdoor art exhibition with a number of new murals created for the occasion. The exhibition, called “Procesión: Pinturas de Mon Laferte,” will be held in conjunction with the Bahía Utópica art gallery from February 15th to March 12th.

In recent days, Mon Laferte revealed that she painted one of the murals in Cerro Alegre de Valparaíso and documented the process on her Instagram account.

Her first painting is entitled “Día Uno” and shows a naked woman accompanied by figures in red and yellow tones with a blue background. The work, according to the artist, portrays the female menstrual cycle incorporating intimate and devotional elements in the melancholic gaze of the characters. The painting has caused great annoyance in the Ministery of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Valparaíso, who described the painting as “a selfish manifestation” and worthy of a fine since it hadn’t received an official permit. On his part, the mayor of Valparaiso applauded the artist and stated he was looking forward to more paintings by this artist. Mon Laferte took the opportunity to talk about the really important issues that the country is facing and that authorities should be focusing on, highlighting police brutality.

Her other mural is titled “Por favor,” and the artist explained that the idea was to support a national organization for the preservation of oceans, Océana Chile, the painting works as a call to action to limit single-use plastics.

The Latin Grammy Award winner has worked in painting since she was 10 years old and has developed her unique self-taught style. She previously exhibited her work in Mexico City where she opened an art gallery, and now in Valparaíso, with her open-air mural collection.


Guayaquil Features "Aeroarte," the World's First Aerial Art Gallery

In the city of Guayaquil, 9 murals out of a total of 14 have been inaugurated by Mayor Cynthia Viteri as part of a project to pay tribute to the Ecuadorian city and its heroes. When completed, residents will be able to view this gallery of murals while traveling through the air on the system of gondolas that Guayaquil with a neighboring town of Duran.

The project titled “Aeroarte” is described by local authorities as, “the world’s first aerial art gallery, an open-air space circuit for the exhibition of contemporary works of art that are visible from certain routes of the Aerovía Aerosuspended Transportation System of Guayaquil.” To showcase the innovation and modernity of the new transportation system, users now will be able to admire art while moving around on the system of gondolas from which these large murals can be viewed.

Aeroarte promoted as a unique and innovative space, ideal for the appreciate and promotion of contemporary art. The first phase of this project is scheduled to be completed by January 18 with the final installations expected to be completed sometime in February.

The Guayaquil Siglo XXI Foundation is in charge of the project, with a history of over 20 years contributing to the urban development, they seek to promote the well-being of the community. This will mark another success for the foundation who has led programs in the past for the construction of sidewalks, furniture, lighting, ramps, signs, underground wiring, and other vital enhancements for the city.

The Guayaquil Siglo XXI Foundation regularly posts updates about their programs on their Instagram account at @guayaquil_siglo_xxi, including their most recent project, Aeroarte.


The Chilean City of Frutillar Celebrates Its Heritage Through Two New Murals

The Chilean city of Frutillar recently carried out Urban Culture Week in its well-known landmark Teatro del Lago. The event involved various activities related to Hip Hop and Urban culture, including two murals accompanied by a digital session with speakers on the aforementioned themes.

Monday, January 11, marked the start of the mural project known as “Frutillar is Drawn,” consisting of two murals by renowned Chilean artists and muralists. The first installation is being worked on by illustrator and muralist Maida K, who, after consulting with the community, developed the theme of “A Creative City of Music,” paying homage to the history and economic relevance of musical talents developed there. The second mural was undertaken by artist Giova, who, together with residents of Frutillar, created a work focusing on the collective image of the past, present, and future of this city. The murals are expected to serve as a way for the city to solidify its trajectory and vision for the future.

Additionally, talks and workshops on the development of Hip Hop culture in Chile will be carried out along with live performances from famous local bands.


Bucaramanga Showcases Local Talent with Addition of New Murals

The Colombian city of Bucaramanga ushered in a New Year dressed in colors thanks to murals created by visual artists participating in the contest “Bucaramanga Cree en tu Talento 2020” (from the Municipal Institute of Culture and Tourism) carried out in several parts of the city.

From mid-December, a number of creations by winners in the category of plastic arts adorned the corners of various sectors of the capital of Santander, with the results being quite eye-catching now that most of the artists have completed their works.

One of these artistic installations is known as the “Heroes” project by Ucronía Urbana Collective, an initiative that arose in response to difficulties brought on by the pandemic. The work employs mainly sign language as a vehicle to project a message of optimism. However, it also warns not only of the difficulties generated by Covid-19 but also the historical precariousness that this sector has suffered.

Another piece by Franklin Piaguaje is based on interviews with random members of the neighborhood La Inmaculada (known for its high crime rate). In this way he attempted to depict the difficulties faced by people here and to represent day to day life in this community.

Another winning project titled ‘Intrinsic Connection’, was carried out by Danny Delgado. He describes it as an opportunity to highlight and immortalize the most emblematic places of the city by adding color, especially to the parks and squares of the city where people often congregate.

In addition to the murals, the event was accompanied by theater presentations, music, and dance exhibitions where the best of local talent was reflected.


Brazilian Street Art Festival “Fest.AR” Adds a VR Twist

São Paulo, a city widely recognized its thriving urban art scene, will host the first edition of “Fest.AR – Graffitis Apagados de São Paulo”, an unprecedented virtual reality event in South America. The initiative seeks to rescue works by 13 artists from different street art variations that have marked the city’s cultural life in the last four decades, aiming to heighten the historical heritage of the municipality and promote a constructive dialogue between the population and the city itself, in a way never before seen.

Fest.AR is an iconic event that promotes the rescue of São Paulo’s cultural heritage through the virtual delivery of ephemeral works such as graffiti, lettering, and murals in points of Avenida Paulista and surrounding areas, which were erased at some point by the natural evolution that cities experience, especially big ones like São Paulo.

Organized by MOVA and conceived by multimedia artist Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro, a researcher in digital memory and contemporary heritage, the festival also brings curatorship from cultural producer Vera Santana, and artist Prila Maria.

Prila was responsible for the entire research process, cataloging, and inviting 3 female protagonists with high relevance in the region: Loba Gi, Sujeitas, and OPS (Vismoart); in addition to graffiti artist Subtu. The festival also features the works of 6emeia, Jaime Prades, Bueno Caos, Mauro Neri, Nina Pandolfo, Nove, SHN, Tinho, and Rui Amaral.

The event will be live until December 28 and consists of a simple process: to experience Fest.AR, the user needs to download an application for free on their cell phone (available on Android and soon on iOS), the application will indicate the physical locations of the old pieces of art through geolocation options, by directing your cell phone to the indicated location, it will be possible to view the work that was once there, photograph it and film it, even with you on the picture, as if it were current reality, providing interactivity with the times that only current technology can achieve.

The festival’s progress is being updated through the Instagram profile @_fest.ar/, and, additionally Fest.AR promotes free virtual workshops through their social media accounts. These are given by Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro and started on December 5, with theoretical content and practical activities related to augmented reality as an instrument of urban occupation.

With 3 more weeks left, Fest.AR promises to be a great experience to both fans of street art and VR enthusiasts, and represents an important step in the evolution of urban art, making us wonder about the possibilities that new technologies could bring on how we appreciate it.


Eduardo Kobra Begins Restoration Movement for his Works in São Paulo

The famous Brazilian muralist Eduardo Kobra started a new project, the restoration of his main works. Together with his team a number of pieces will be touched up and repainted starting with Lenda do Brasil, made in honor of F1 driver Ayrton Senna. The mural, showing the driver with a helmet and a triumphant look, is one of Kobra’s favorite due to the fact he considers Senna as one of his biggest idols. The restoration started in the last week of November 2020, with the next work on the list being his vibrant Oscar Niemeyer mural, in the Paulista Avenue of São Paulo.

Kobra has stated that, although he isn’t a big fan of sports, Senna in particular is one of his greatest idols and he finds inspiration in his example of determination and perseverance; an inspiration that he has paid homage to by painted 12 murals of the three-time F1 world champion; the most recent being painted in march of this year in the Interlagos race track of São Paulo.

For the initial phase of the project, Kobra looked to Audi Brasil, a company that has a historical connection with the world champion, and they welcomed the idea of making this first stage of the project feasible, aiming to start a movement that plans to change how street art is perceived by current and future generations.

This appears to be one of Kobra’s first movements for the restoration, and preservation of murals, that have become a true heritage of the cities they belong to and, according to the artist, deserve the same care as buildings, public monuments, and any work of art.


Chinácota in Colombia Begins the Art Meetup "Sembradores de Paz"

From November 21 to 30, the Colombian municipality of Chinácota in Norte de Santander will host “Sembradores de Paz” (in English, “Sowers of Peace”), an international event that will receive artistic and cultural representatives from South American countries, and other regions of Colombia. The meeting is part of the project Encuentro Internacional de Muralismo y el Arte Público that is holding its fifth annual edition.

The objective of the event is to promote integration between peoples, as well as to involve the community in activities that help evolve the territory in a fun and aesthetic manner. At the same time, they seek to leave a strong message of peace, by linking the theme of the event with the commemoration of the signing of the Peace Agreement in the locality in 1902, after several strong political and social conflicts that took part in The War of The Thousand Days; since then, the municipality of Chinácota, has been characterized as the “national capital of peace.”

Based on these historical events and as a sign of tribute, artists and cultural managers of the region began, in 2015, the “Encuentro Internacional de Muralismo y el Arte Público”, a peace project that seeks integration of people, and the transformation of spaces into protective and cohesive environments.

The event has already started and will consist of 30 artistic interventions, between murals, musical presentations, and workshops which progress will be updated through the Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/encuentrodemuralismo/


CURA Festival closes its 5th edition with 4 new murals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

With the motto “2020 tem CURA” (translated as “2020 has a CURE”), one of the biggest public art festivals in the Brazilian “CURA” (Circuito Urbano de Arte) adds to the city of Belo Horizonte 4 gigantic new murals loaded with representative flavor to further color the city. In this year’s fifth edition, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, debates and workshops took place online, and even amid the pandemic, the five producers of the festival managed to successfully mobilize several in-person activities.

Another novelty of this edition of Cura was the use of an online poll to choose one artist residing in Brazil for the opportunity to paint the facade of one of the buildings in his/her locality.

The artists who made up the painting team in the gables of the Belo Horizonte buildings were Lídia Viber, Robinho Santana, Daiara Tiukano, and the one chosen from the online poll, Diego Mouro whose works addressed themes such as black and indigenous culture and heritage.

The Cura festival ran until October 4th, and in addition to producing new public artworks to be admired in the streets of the city, the circuit maintained and updated its own YouTube channel.


New Killart Wall Paintings Arrive in Barranquilla for its Latest Edition

On September 23rd, 2020, artists entered in the 2020 Barranquilla (Colombia) Graffiti and Urban Art Festival popularly known as "Killart," and began painting their murals in spaces designated for this year's edition of the event.

Participating artists include: Ceam Ceas, Law Carvajal, Luis Amaris, Keko Angulo and Brik One, Norella Magdaniells, Omar Alonso, and Yuyo del Valle. These eight artists will begin to leave their creative mark on the sites chosen by the French Alliance, organizer of the event, hand-in-hand with the Secretariat of Culture, Heritage and Tourism. The works are scheduled to be completed on Wednesday, September 30th, when the official unveiling will be held and the fences that restrict the area to avoid the spread of Covid will be removed.

This event is partially made possible through the support of the Lienzo Urbano Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, the National Program for Cultural Concertation, the Chamber of Commerce of Barranquilla, and Coverfil Pinturas.

The festival has three main categories:
– Killart Street: A total of 5 artists will paint murals on 5 walls in the public space with an open theme, where the artistic style of the participants can be appreciated.
– Heroes of the pandemic: An artist will design and paint a public mural to pay tribute to healthcare workers for their remarkable performance in response to the pandemic.
– Killart at the Cortissoz: Several artists will paint murals that pay tribute to the evolution of the city. Winning murals in this category will depict its migratory history which affected culture, gastronomy, and the overall development of Barranquilla. An area of the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport has been assigned for these new artworks.

Killart is one of the most beloved events for Barranquilla residents because it puts art at the service of all. It makes Barranquilla an open-air gallery where everyone can walk and enjoy. The event promotes the appropriation of spaces by the creations of local artists as essential for the city, its inhabitants, and visitors.

Along with artistic interventions on the walls of the city, Killart has arranged an academic agenda that includes workshops and talks, among other activities.


“Haciendo Calle” Moves From the Web to Guayaquil Communities

With artists such as Andrea Moreira, Ivan Casanova, Chester King Lucky, Made, NeoSudacas, Carla Bresciani and La Señora de los Graffs, the biennial “Haciendo Calle” moves out of its digital stage and goes to the walls of Nuevo Ceibos in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil.

The festival started in June 2020 through social media due to the current pandemic, with a series of urban interventions by both national and international artists that went through August and were being updated through the festival’s Instagram account. However, the inhabitants of the Nuevo Ceibos locality reached out to the representatives of the festival with the intention of painting several murals, turning the so-far digital-only festival into a face-to-face event.

The project is led by researcher teacher María Fernanda López, in conjunction with muralist Carla Bresciani, and it’s centered on exposition, developing critical appreciations, and promoting a pedagogy between the artists and the community.

This face-to-face part marks the end of the first stage of the biennial festival that will have an additional stage in October. This next part of the event is already being developed and focuses on generating a platform and critical reflection to analyze the whole process on multiple levels. With the participation of communal representatives who will bring their opinion to the discussion, this year plans to have spectacular results.


Brazilian Muralist Criola to Represent Urban Artists in the Upcoming UFMG Winter Festival

Between September 14th and 23rd, the UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) will conduct its 52nd Winter Festival. One of the most important and traditional cultural events in Brazil that, this year in 2020, plans to reinvent itself to be held online, with activities open to the public. The Festival will have lectures, conversation circles, and artistic presentations broadcasted live on YouTube, in addition to virtual exhibitions and the launch of digital publications by Brazilian thinkers.

Under the theme “Possible worlds: Cultures in Thought,” the Festival proposes a discussion on the role and meaning of culture in a context of crisis and social confinement. Thus, UFMG invites thinkers, philosophers, activists, and indigenous leaders to the debate, for the Seminar “Culturas em Pensamento.”

The festival’s menu of cultural attractions offers music, dance, and performances to the public. The event will follow five online exhibitions associated with the Winter Festival program, in addition to an exhibition that will project images and videos on buildings in the city, which will lead to an opening exhibition by urban artist Criola.

Criola is a representative of Brazilian urban art with works in Europe and South America. While immersed in social and political agendas, her large-format murals touch on ancestry and question the values ​​of contemporary society, addressing spirituality and a futuristic hybrid universe without illusory distinctions between human beings and nature.

The entire program will be available at http://www.ufmg.br/festivaldeinverno .


Uruguayan Street Artist José Gallino Prepares for European Tour

In recent years, faces of prominent figures have been popping up on walls across Uruguay, but now, they will begin to appear in several European countries through the talent of street artist José Gallino. To begin his tour, he plans to leave his mark on both France and Spain with murals of former Uruguay president José Mujica, soccer player Luis Suárez, and the musician Jorge Drexler.

The majority of his pieces are large scale portraits of prominent Uruguayans such as actress China Zorrilla or the singer Alfredo Zitarrosa, but he has painted important figures on the world stage such as Steve Jobs, and also fictional characters such as chemistry professor turned drug trafficker Walter White, from the TV series Breaking Bad.

Continuing with his pattern of portraying famous Uruguayans, he plans to paint several Uruguayan personalities that now reside in Europe, for example, Suárez in Barcelona and ​​Drexler in Madrid. Both of these well-known Uruguayans have made Spain their second home, the first as one of the top players in the local soccer league with the Barcelona club and the second with his musical talent that earned him an Oscar.

The idea of painting illustrious Uruguayans in Europe arose after an invitation that the artist and his collaborators received when they inaugurated a square in homage to Luisa Cuesta, social activist, and mother of a politician who disappeared during the military dictatorship (1973-1985).

The trip was suspended until pandemic related travel restrictions eased up, but months of delay allowed Gallino’s team to inquire on social media about what figures to paint and now they are ready to start working.


Santo Domingo Celebrates with “A Contagiarnos de Cultura”

The Augusto Egas Health Center has become a new space for cultural expression in the Ecuadorian city of Santo Domingo. Children and adults gathered to participate in the event that was organized to show support for the arts and especially for mural painting, with the intention of further  developing the skills of both new and veteran street artists.

Through a project called “A Contagiarnos de Cultura” (translated as “Let’s Get Infected with Culture” a clear reference to the on-going pandemic), several artists created new murals, giving them the opportunity to show off their artistic styles.

Mayra Cadena, a cultural organizer known in the art world as Azuliz, was responsible for managing the event. She was quoted as saying that the objective is to make the urban artists of Santo Domingo visible and to show the community that they are still active, despite the difficult situation. The production of new murals was accompanied by diverse artistic activities such as dance, theater, live music, and more, with health institutions providing a location, support, and a safe environment for the event to take place. In addition, the artists put out a call to the town leaders, both public and private, to invest in culture and to help create more spaces for these expressions.

Participants include Arte Mural Caps, Impacto Color, Domino Paint, Cesarayalat, Arte&Rock, and Texon. A very talented artist, Elena Lara, was also there to delight the crowd with her violin.


The Brazilian Region of Planaltina Honors its History Through Street Art

The Secretariat of Culture and Creative Economy of the Federal District of Brazil (SECEC) launched a public call for proposals that will select 15 graffiti artists to contribute works to the “Planaltina Arte Urbana” event, an artistic intervention scheduled for the 1st to the 4th of October. The event is planned to take place at the Cultural Complex of the Planaltina Region and is will commemorate its 161 years history, the oldest administrative district of the Federal government.

The project is seen as a great opportunity to boost interest in urban art, especially relevant for the Planaltina region known as one of the most creative cultural territories in the Federal District. Apart from the promotion of culture, the art installation at the Cultural Complex of Planaltina is seen as a chance to give more exposure to graffiti artists and hip-hop culture present in the city.

Under the banner of “Planaltina: Heritage, Culture, and Identity of Our Centennial City,” the installation consists of a series of graphic panels on the outer walls of the Cultural Complex located at the main entrance on Uberdan Cardoso Avenue.

Application is open to graffiti artists, whether individuals or collectives, who live in the Federal District or surrounding areas and who can demonstrate a portfolio with at least one completed mural. Selected candidates will be asked to, through their art, depict the history, art, and cultural heritage of the 161 years old city.

In view of the pandemic, participants will have to comply with standards set out by local health officials. Artists will receive necessary supplies to prevent contagion, personal protective and safety equipment, as will be required to work in altering shifts, in order to promote social distancing.


Santiago de Chile Metropolitan Park Reopens with New Mural by Cekis

The project to add a new ground mural at the North entrance to the Santiago Metropolitan Park was managed by creative studio Lira Arte Público, specialists in mural interventions in public spaces and led by curator and urban designer Esteban Barrera. The project was carried out in conjunction with the Santiago Metropolitan Park team who designed and added signs for physical distancing and contributed to the design of the mural itself that covers over 1.000 square meters and was created by Chilean artist, Cekis.

One of the founders and major contributors to the Chilean urban art scene in the nineties, Cekis continues to be a well-known and influential artist among his peers despite having left Chile to live in New York over 10 years ago. Returning now to work on this ambitious project, the influence of his time abroad in a major metropolitan city is apparent in his painting style.

The mural is inspired by the local flora and fauna of the Santiago Metropolitan Park and the placement and design is intended to draw in new visitors to enjoy the over 737 hectares the park has to offer. Soon, along with this latest piece, there will be another artistic intervention by the prominent Chilean muralist Anis, who, working together with the Metropolitan Park team and the creative studio Lira Arte Público, will be in charge of creating a similar mural for the Pío Nono access to the park.


Colombian Street Art Festival "Killart" Set to Take Over Barranquilla City

The sixth edition of Colombian urban art Festival Killart recently opened its sign-up process within the framework set out for cultural events in the city and adapting to new biosecurity measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, as in years past the urban art event is set to take over the city of Barranquilla, this year from September 23rd to the 30th in various parts of the city. Enrollment for participation is open until August 30th and the publication of participants will be on September 2.

Despite setbacks, they expect this year’s even to go ahead as in the past; continuing to revitalize the city with huge murals and transforming multiple city spaces such as a segments of Road 40 and an area near City Hall.

Over the years, the event has been a boon for dozens of local muralists who have had the opportunity to experiment and learn new techniques with the help of veteran artists. It has given them a chance to head up their own projects while hosting artists from other parts of Colombia and from abroad.

In its sixth edition, convened by the Alliance Française of Barranquilla, and with the full support of the District Secretary of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Killart is set to go ahead as usual with a few necessary adjustments made in light of the pandemic. In this way, it will only have artists residing in Barranquilla and the municipalities of the metropolitan area.

The call for participation in the festival has three categories:

– Killart Street: A total of 5 artists will be chosen to paint murals on 5 walls in the public space with an open theme, where the artistic style of the participant can be appreciated.

– Heroes of the pandemic: An artist will design and paint a public mural to pay tribute to healthcare workers for their strong performance in response to the pandemic.

– Killart at the Cortissoz: Several artists will be chosen to paint murals that pay tribute to the evolution of the city. Winning murals in this category will depict its migratory history which affected culture, gastronomy, and the overall development of Barranquilla. An area of the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport has been designated for these new artworks.

Through events like Killart, the city of Barranquilla continues to evolve its relationship with public muralists. Only in recent times has the public perception shifted to one that is more favorable and accommodating to this art form. We look forward to seeing the results of this year’s event.


Rio de Janeiro Prepares to Host the Rua Walls Event

In September, Rio de Janeiro will host the Rua Walls event, an open and accessible public art project with the participation of 18 urban artists. Together, they will transform 1.5 km of city walls along Rodrigues Alves Avenue into works of art. Starting from August 22, each participating artist has one month to complete their mural, with the exhibition scheduled to start on September 27. The urbanism project was created by the production company Visionartz, which, for more than 10 years, has been developing urban revitalization projects in the region using art as a social development tool.

More than an art exhibition, the initiative serves as a tool to revitalize the region and stimulate the local economy; more important this year than ever considering the impact the coronavirus has had on the economy. The paintings will leave a lasting mark on the community, to be enjoyed by locals and visiting tourists alike.

The project provides locals with the opportunity to learn about works by some of the most talented visual artists of the urban art scene. In recent months people have been avoiding the outdoors but the project will eventually serve to help people relax in the urban environment once things return to normal.

Among names confirmed for participation in the event are: Agrade Camís, Amorinha, Bruno Lyfe, Célio, Chica Capeto, Diego Zelota, Doloroes Esos, Flora Yumi, Igor SRC, Leandro Assis, Luna Bastos, Mariê Balbinot, Marlon Muk, Miguel Afa, Paula Cruz, Thiago Haule, Vinicius Mesquita and Ziza.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging and Brazil being especially hard-hit, health precautions have been increased, and production teams will be following recommendations set out by the Ministry of Health. The majority of paintings will be done during the night, while the avenue remains closed to traffic.


In Perú, Urban Artist Daniel Manrique Barzola Honors Covid-19 Victims.

As of August 16, Covid-19 has killed 772,000  people worldwide and in South and Central America several countries have been especially hard-hit by the virus including Brazil, Mexico, and Perú. With a population of 33 million inhabitants, Peru has now reported over 22,000 deaths and some feel this figure might not reflect the true number of deaths as many have gone unreported.

While health workers of all nations desperately seek a vaccine to contain the crisis, many citizens have started focussing on ways to pay tribute to victims who lost their lives to the disease. Such is the case of Peruvian muralist Daniel Manrique Barzola, who has been painting portraits of local victims of Covid-19 on the walls of his neighborhood to send a message about the impact the pandemic has had on his community.

Daniel explains that the initiative arose out of concern for his fellow citizens―many of whom initially refused to comply with sanitary measures―and the need to alert them to the actual danger posed by the virus. To do this, he decided to start painting murals to let people know about all those in the neighborhood who had died from the disease. Now the streets of Rímac, Lima are beginning to fill with portraits of the deceased; on one wall the face of a 20-year-old young man, on another a 72-year-old woman, and sadly, the face of his niece on another. All victims to the recent virus.

Because he has been painting in the community for more than 22 years and is well-known to his neighbors, his message has surely helped slow the spread of the disease. To help deal with his own great sense loss and to assist in healing his community, he has started visiting the homes of the relatives of the deceased and giving them small paintings of the loved ones they have lost.


"Puertas Abiertas" to be Held Online this Year

This year the fourth edition of “Puertas Abiertas” (Open Doors) will be held online. This is an event in which artists from the Yungay neighborhood of Santiago de Chile integrate the community into their creative processes by showing participants how murals, sculptures, and serigraphs are made. Puertas Abiertas has more than 40 visual artists in its ranks who hope to help satisfy people’s curiosity, deepen their knowledge, and help promote access to arts and culture. The event lasts for one week and is completely free of charge to the public.

In past years the event actually took place live, with a number of organized events and gatherings. This year however, given the healthcare context, the meeting has been adapted to an online version in which visual artists share their presentations with the public from their workshops via live streaming. The event begins at 4 PM on Monday, August 31st and ends on Saturday, September 5th.

You can also check the programming on www.artistasyungay.cl, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook at “Artistas Yungay,” to be part of the experience.


With 12 New Murals, São Paulo Continues to Churn Out Urban Art Pieces.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, and with art galleries still closed, São Paulo proves once again why it is the world’s epicenter of urban art.

Planned as part of the “NaLata” Festival–and thought by many to have been postponed due to the pandemic–the project to paint 12 new murals in the Pinheiros neighborhood of São Paulo is still going forward. With many of the new pieces taking shape, they look to be completed in due course despite Brazil being hard hit by the virus.

One of the participants, Mexican painter Paola Delfín, recently finished a mural she started working on over one month ago. The piece is of the face of a woman rendered in different shades of gray. Meanwhile, renowned artist Enivo is working on the largest piece of all, a technicolor figure carrying a cat in his arms and wearing an indigenous headdress with feathers that are actually spray paint cans. This mysterious figure is depicted wearing a long skirt with the Brazilian flag whose motto “Ordem e Progresso” (Order and Progress) has been replaced with the words”Tempo Novo” (New Times).

Apart from Paola Delfín and Enivo, many other popular street artists have joined in the festival including Marcelo Eco, Alex Senna, Pri Barbosa, Evol, Mari Mats, Mateus Bailon, Rafael Sliks, Colombian artist Gleo, and five graffiti artists recently selected in the “Novos Talentos Murais SP” (New Muralist Talent Contest).

When completed the project will represent the largest graffiti complex in the country, with 3,689 square meters painted in total.


"Persiste" the First non-Profit Street Art Auction in Chile Successfully Completed

The Chilean street art gallery Lira Arte Público and a group of artists organized a charity auction called “Persiste” with the participation of well-known talents such as INTI, Alejandro “Mono” González, Cekis, Caiozzama, Anis, Mical, Alme and Stfi. The event took place via online streaming and offered several workshop pieces for sale―with a total of 78 works by a variety of 39 emerging and established artists―featuring both local names and artists from abroad.

The auction system used an online catalog that offered participants a chance to preview pieces before buying. Bidding began on Friday the 14th at 8:00 p.m. and finished on Sunday, August the 16th at the same time. All of this took place on the Lira Arte Público website for the event:  persiste.liraartepublico.com. At the completion of the auction on the 16th, a few special events were held including Q&A with artists from the catalog, addressing comments left by the community on the event Instagram account: @persiste_subasta and @liraartepublico

The organizers stressed that the event was non-profit and that neither the gallery nor the artists received a commission on sold pieces. Instead, in a show of solidarity with the community, all proceeds went to support art and culture related areas that had been severely impacted as a result of the ongoing pandemic.


Perú and Colombia Celebrate Their Close Ties Through Urban Art Talks

On July 21st, the muralists Yohn Smith Sierra and Roberto Peremese will participate in a lecture titled “Conversations About Urban Art,” where they will discuss how their projects have contributed to the transformation of cities like Lima and Bogotá.

Smith and Peremese plan to talk about the purpose of their urban interventions and how their projects have influenced the transformation and redefinition of the center of cities such as Bogotá and Lima. Other topics to be discussed are the ideal conditions for art interventions in large citiesl; the importance of modern movements such as hip hop, graffiti, and muralism; and how street art has managed to make inroads into traditional cultural sectors.

The interview is part of a series of events related to “The Peru Week in Colombia,” a festivity carried out by the embassy of Peru in Bogota that includes cultural, commercial, and gastronomic events, as well as activities to promote tourism. The festival will run until July 24th and offers an opportunity for Colombians to get to know more about the neighboring nation of Perú.

The celebration is an expression of the long friendship and cultural ties between Peru and Colombia, where the main topic will be about cultural construction in the center of these two countries.


The Fourth NUMU Festival Takes Place in Ecuador Despite Obstacles

NUMU is an urban art festival that has been taking place in the city of Ibarra in the north of Ecuador since 2017. Its name comes from the words “nuevo mural” or “new mural” because every year they choose a new neighborhood in the city to hold this event. An independent and self-managed project, in the past it has met with multiple setbacks due to lack of resources, logistics, national protests, and this time in 2020, due to a worldwide pandemic.

We here at SASA first discovered NUMU in 2019 entirely by accident. While traveling back south from Colombia, we got caught up for a few days in the riots that had completely shut down the city (a protest against labor laws and a repealing of a fuel subsidy that affected agrarian communities greatly). While trying to make our way around all of the blocked roads, burning tires, and crowds of protesters, we wandered into one of the neighborhoods that had been recently painted by NUMU. Without the protests we likely never would have discovered these excellent pieces, many of which you can see in our gallery page on Ecuador.

As we later learned, Ibarra was once a city with no modern murals and with a conservative agrarian population who—before this festival began—largely believed that muralism had to be done in a certain way and that it had to reflect conservative rural values. Now the city has become the headquarter of this project that takes it as its mission to liven up the neighborhoods by adding a splash of color and creativity.

Though the festival is now more popular than ever before, not just among visiting artists, but also with the local population; similar to in years past they still have a lot of challenges to overcome. This year a lack of funding almost stopped the project in its tracks; but then the organizers decided to go ahead with fundraising and collecting donations. Eventually, with the help of the community, the artists themselves, and partly thanks to the reputation NUMU had built for themselves through past events, it was possible to make things happen. So despite all the setbacks, (even more than in past years) the festival took place over three days at the end of July and the result was that the streets of Simón Bolívar neighborhood were filled with freshly painted murals by both local and International talent such as Pino Supay, Azpeger, Paint, Rayz, Diegumberrto, Anadnum, and Andrés Cuatín.

The NUMU festival is an example of a commitment to self-management and community power and its resiliency stems from the passion of its organizers and participants who find ways to join together to beat the odds. The worldwide pandemic further complicated the situation this year, however, at the same time managed to create more of a need for self-expression. As a result, this year turned out to be one of the most successful festivals yet. We are hoping to get back to Ecuador when the situation improves so we can document some of the results.


Brazilian Street Artist Kobra Paints Mural Calling for Unity in Time of Pandemic

Anyone who follows street art is sure to have come across the name Kobra at some point in time. Originally from Sao Paulo, he is known for painting large kaleidoscopic photorealistic images, often depicting famous people or recognizable themes. A superstar in his own country, in recent years he has traveled abroad frequently, creating large compositions on buildings in major cities across the globe in his iconic style. Recently though, with Brazil being particularly hard-hit by this world pandemic, the places where he works, creates, and finds inspiration are increasingly off-limits as public lockdowns prohibit people from being outside in the streets for much of the day.

Cut off from his ability to work on large murals, Kobra decided to paint a small mural indoors that he calls “Coexistence.” The piece depicts children from all 5 of the world’s major religions joined together in prayer to overcome the suffering brought about by this worldwide plague. The message is one of unity, urging people to put aside their differences and to focus on our common humanity. His hope is that once restrictions are lifted and the situation seems safe again, he will be able to create a full-size rendition somewhere in the world.

Wanting to ease the situation for people in his country, Kobra also set up a charity to feed the homeless by auctioning off prints of his mural to help raise funds for basic meals for people on the street who must find it especially difficult during these times to survive in such harsh conditions


South American Muralists Come Together in the 5th Edition of the Amazonarte Festival

Even in these times of quarantine, artists still manage to find ways to gather to practice their craft. In addition to working on their creations within health guidelines, they have also decided to gather to share knowledge and bring art to the community. An example of this is the Peruvian Amazonarte Festival, which this year is reinventing itself with a virtual meeting that will unite all of Latin America.

In this fifth edition of this event, planned to start on April 27th and run until the end of the month, Latin American muralists will paint walls in real-time and give workshops from their homes. There will also be interviews with important cultural figures from countries across the region.

The creator of this platform, renowned muralist and cultural influencer Joe Fernández (Zelvauno),  believes that art is the an important part of the foundation needed for society to advance. Therefore, he felt compelled to find an alternative that would allow people to continue creating and spreading art despite limitations imposed by the current pandemic. The idea to create a virtual edition of the festival that people could participate in from home was proposed and welcomed and this has allowed, for the first time, people throughout the world to participate.

There are 43 artists from a total of 20 countries who are contributing their time and expertise to the festival to make it a success.  By April 28th, there were already 56 videos of artists working on murals from Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentina, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico and more.


Eduardo Kobra Releases New Mural in Honor of F1 Champion Ayrton Senna

The Brazilian circuit of Interlagos, home of one of the most traditional events in Formula 1 racing, celebrated its 80th anniversary on Tuesday with a new giant mural of the legendary Ayrton Senna; produced by the famous artist Eduardo Kobra.

Nearing the level of national folklore, the story of how Senna won Brazilian Grand Prix despite problems in the gearbox ing the final laps of the race is widely know.

The work will be unveiled this Tuesday, at the entrance of the circuit’s boxes. 27 meters high by 10 meters wide, it commemorates the victory of the Brazilian driver in 1991 at the São Paulo race track, one of the most epic of his career. With this win, Ayrton Senna became a three-time Formula 1 world champion and died just 3 short years later on May 1, 1994, during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy.

Interlagos ended up becoming a space for tributes to Ayrton. There are also statues and now this beautiful mural by Kobra, which, through his Instagram account, showed his satisfaction in completing yet another tribute to the much admired driver, who would have turned 60 in March of this year.


The Documentary Series "Nuevo Mundo" Provides a Fresh Look at Street Art in South America

In an eight part series, the work of more than 50 South American artists dedicated to urban art and muralism will be examined to discover their influences and artistic codes. It also takes a look at common themes that form the basis of their expression and how it impacts the relationship between the city and its inhabitants.
Nuevo Mundo (translated as “New World”) was produced by the Chilean audiovisual company Tercermundo and is directed by Juan Tamayo. In addition, Paulina Ferretti and Guillermo Migrik worked as producers on the first-of-its-kind series.
Filming took two years and spans from the US-Mexico border to Argentina; providing us with many different views of the world, reasons for expression, and styles of street art across Latin America. All of this falls under one unique premise, that regardless of the part of Latin America where a mural or piece of street art was made, it still has certain characteristics unique to the region.


Venezuelan Artist Creates an Eco-Mural with 200,000 Recycled Bottle Caps

Recently four gigantic macaws made with recycled plastic caps have been installed on the wall of a small square in Caracas, filing one of the entrances of the neighborhood of El Hatillo with color and reminding its inhabitants of the importance of saving the planet.

In addition to the four macaws, the work depicts an “Araguaney” (the Venezuelan national tree), four large sunflowers, the mountains of the El Ávila national park (which surrounds the Venezuelan capital), and a group of buildings that is lost between a green meadow and a starry sky.

When talking about the scope of the work, author Oscar Olivares (the youngest painter at the ArtExpo New York in 2017) did not hesitate to identify the mural as the most important professional commitment of his career, which began at the age of 14. Olivares resorted to the pointillism technique, juxtaposing tens of thousands of caps, with their original colors, to give shape and vitality to the different figures of the composition.

The “Okomural,” (likely named as a reference to the main supporters of the work, the organization OkoSpiri) is over 43 meters in length and is made up of more than 200,000 plastic caps from soda bottles, food containers, and personal hygiene and cleaning products that thousands of inhabitants contributed through social network logistics and the local recycling company MultiRecicla.

The initiative was led by María Daniela Velasco, founder of the non-governmental organization OkoSpiri, which in mid-2018 began the search for alliances and private financing to carry out the project. Velasco considers the work as one of the largest ecological murals in Latin America and the first of its kind in Venezuela and seeks to create environmental awareness among the inhabitants of the chaotic Venezuelan capital that suffers from a complex social, political, and economic crisis that has led to the generation of large garbage dumps and the neglect of green areas.


First Edition of “Arte Urbano Lincoln” Set to Take Place in Mendoza, Argentina

From January 31st to February 2nd, the first edition of Arte Urbano Lincoln 2020 is scheduled to take place. This first meeting, "proposes artistic interventions and various installations for the General San Martín Municipal Park in the municipality of Lincoln of Mendoza, Argentina." Over the course of the event, 14 visual artists will transform various spaces of the Municipal Park under the theme "Carnival," and, each day is expected to becomes more festive as the date for carnival in Argentina and Latin America draws near.

The organizers explained that, in most cases, the techniques to be used are mural painting and relief casting, but that each artist is free to give rise to their creations in whatever way they see most fitting. The visual artists set to participate are: Luciana Maccaroni; Julieta Roselló; Zaida Rafful; Mauricio PowBoy; Santiago Murialdo; Matías Coperchio; Felipes Reyes; Agustina Gesteira; Jesús Gorrini; Carola Cenicero; Marisol Giangrandi; and Pablo Zubillaga.

It is worth mentioning that one of the goals of the Arte Urbano Lincoln project is to find ways to use different types of supports as urban furniture. Although this first edition is centered around San Martín Park, it plans to expand in future editions to cover other spaces of the district, as well as to encouraging more community participation in the planning and carrying out of the event.


Ipiranga Museum celebrates São Paulo's Anniversary with Street Art Exhibition

Great news for the art scene of São Paulo as, on January 25th (the date on which São Paulo’s anniversary is celebrated), the Ipiranga Museum which is currently under renovation will host the Tapume! Graffiti Festival, from 10 am to 7 pm.

Due to the renovations that have been ongoing since 2013, the museum is surrounded by paneling. As part of the festival, a 220 meter stretch of this paneling will become the canvas for 35 urban artists who were selected by curator Gustavo Cortelazzi. Among the invited graffiti artists are prominent names in urban art such as Binho, Chivitz, Minhau, Vermelho, Salmos, Kueia, Pas, Ronah, Pardal, and Tikka. The participating artists will create artworks under the theme “The visible and the Invisible in History,” and one of the purposes of the event is to help decide what type of artworks the museum should focus on after reopening.

There are a number of other activities planned for the festival, such as a lecture titled “Arte Urbana no Século 21,” given by the owner of Choque Cultural Gallery, Baixo Ribeiro. In addition, two graffiti workshops will take place, one for teenagers and adults and one for children. With free entry, the courses are now open for registration.

Food trucks and live music will accompany the entire event, helping to make sure attendants enjoy the occasion. After completion, the large panels will remain along Nazaré Avenue for all to enjoy.


33 Grados Urban Art Festival Set to Take Place in Uruguay

The sociocultural project 33 Grados International Festival of Urban Art, is an initiative of the 33 Grados Production Company directed by the Uruguayan Jesús Catsouris and the Italian Desiree Ruggiero who address problems in various neighborhoods by seeking integration, participation, and commitment.

The second edition of the festival will take place from January 18 to 26, in the city of Mercedes, from the Soriano department of Uruguay. Around 30 artists from different countries will be painting walls and facades of buildings in different parts of the city.  One of the objectives of the festival is to position Mercedes as the largest open-air art gallery in the country and seeking to restore and revalue public spaces through mural painting, workshops, and other activities. It is hoped this will add value and a sense of belonging through the active participation of the neighboring communities.

This second edition will once again have the participation of urban artists, and this time, sculptors, as well as musicians, designers, dancers, body paint professionals, and performance artists. Repeating last year’s success, the event planned five new murals open to popular participation, conferences, workshops, public demonstrations, and a fair.

The diversity of techniques and styles is what makes this event practically unique in the country for its complete dynamics and its interaction with the public.


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