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Bogotá's street art: A Colombian rennaissance photo by Mysantropia (via Flickr)

Bogotá's street art: A Colombian rennaissance

by : Becky Johnson posted :
Bogotá graffiti of DJ Lu photo by Hernán García Crespo (via Flickr)
Bogotá graffiti of DJ Lu

Make sure to set aside some time in your Colombian adventure trip to check out Bogotá's graffiti. Graffiti is traditionally the medium of expression for those caught within the struggle. It is from the political and cultural struggles of Colombia's past that a modern street art renaissance was born. Boasting more than 5,000 murals and 8,000 active street artists, Bogotá has become a thriving international mecca for urban street art. Tourists and street artists travel from around the world to observe these works of art, or take part in their creation. As you wander through the city, particularly the La Candelaria district, you can observe everything from magnificent, commissioned murals, to smaller pieces painted under the cover of night.

Bus station, Colombia photo by SarahTz (via Flickr)
Bus station, Colombia

An uneasy beginning

Street art is now legal in Bogotá; it was decriminalized (with certain caveats) in 2011, but things were not always easy for street artists. In August of 2011, a 16-year-old street artist named Diego Felipe Becerra was shot and killed by police while tagging an underpass with his famous Felix the Cat sign. The shooting and coverup sparked outrage in the city, with local artists and citizens protesting. This led to the mayor relaxing the laws around street art. Tagging is still frowned upon, and artists are supposed to ask for permission from building owners, but otherwise these artists are now free to create in broad daylight, with many residents of Bogota bringing them drinks and food while they work.

From political protest to artistic expression

While the beginnings of street art in Bogotá were motivated by political upheaval, the focus has now shifted to a general sense of artistic expression, especially with Colombia’s improved political climate and flourishing economy. Certain artists, like the famous Dj Lu, still paint some pieces with a political message. His pineapple/grenade sign is scattered around the city, highlighting that farmland in Colombia was once riddled with mines. And other pieces showcasing homelessness and other social problems are still prominent. However, new murals with vivid colors and bold abstracts are popping up all around the city. A perfect example of this playful and intentional art, is this bold and brilliantly conceived bus station piece, weaving color and sculpture to create something dazzling and unique.

Bogota street art photo by anonymous (via Pixabay.com)
Bogota street art

A celebrated art form

Independence in thought and expression is at the heart of graffiti street art, and modern street artists will always be at the frontlines of expressing the ideals, dreams, and frustrations of the people. They say any blank wall in Bogotá is a bullseye for graffiti, so many business owners commission murals on their buildings to (hopefully) prevent less attractive tagging from adorning their walls. This has mainstreamed street art in many ways, making it a celebrated art form, and creating something like an open-air museum on the streets of the city. Bogotá's street art displays are a bold and beautiful expression of the era, and widely accepted. There are even street art festivals taking place regularly, such as the Meeting of Styles.

Bogota and its beautiful street art are must sees when visiting Colombia. On your Uncharted Colombia adventure tour make sure to carve out some personal time to take in the sights and sounds of the capital city. Colombia is waiting.

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