The Graffiti of Bogota

[icheerthebull]

Narcostate or emerging economy? Paradise or hell on earth? A decade after he first lived in Colombia, Tom Feiling went back to Bogotá in search of the truth. Here he reads Colombia's recent past through the capital's graffiti


When I lived in Bogotá in 2001-2, there wasn't much graffiti or street art to be seen on the streets; ten years later, the scene is thriving. This is the Plaza La Concordia, in the colonial quarter of the city, just over the road from the apartment where I used to live


These days Bogotá is one of the safest cities of Latin America, but many images, like this one in La Macarena, are a reminder of the days when street violence was endemic


Sometimes the only way to get your message across is by throwing the paint on the wall, as shown by this monster in La Candelaria


Former president Álvaro Uribe stepped down in 2010, after eight years in office. During that time the Colombian army pushed the FARC guerrillas into the remotest parts of the countryside. This stencil accuses Uribe of being behind the 'false positives' scandal. Over 1000 guerrillas supposedly killed in combat turned out to be innocent people who had been abducted, killed, and dressed in FARC uniforms in an effort to boost the army's body count


This piece addresses the former president with the words 'I will dance on your grave'. Punk is not dead, at least not in Bogotá


A mural just off Nineteenth Street in downtown Bogotá. The police are regularly criticised for being corrupt, ineffectual and heavy handed

[icheerthebull]

Recognise these guys? Here, the artist says that he would rather vote for the Marx brothers than for a moron


This piece used to read 'Your closet is full of shoes for the city and you still don't realise that you're living in a jungle' – until, that is, somebody lopped off the edge of the piece to put in a doorway


Colombia is among the most unequal countries in the world, and Bogotá's street artists regularly lampoon the violence and intolerance of the wealthy elite


This piece is on a wall opposite the National Library. Many Colombian students feel that their education system whitewashes the less savoury aspects of their country's history


'We are in resistance with the women of the Embera Katio' declares this piece in the Parque de la Independencia. The Embera Katio is an indigenous community that lives in the jungle on the border with Panama, one of many that have suffered at the hands of the country's army, guerrillas and paramilitaries

[icheerthebull]

'The walls have eyes.' Colombia's war on terror has created a climate of watchfulness bordering on paranoia


Indigenous culture is a rich source of inspiration for many Colombian artists


But the mix of races and cultures that make up Colombia has a magic all its own

[bloodgasm]

AWESOME post! Thanks a bunch.

[collaredgirl65]

[NEVERBACKZ]

EXCELLENT! In pic number 6 from the top with the 3 policemen that is a cock in a pussy painted on the wall isint it? I really hope everybody else can see it and not just me because that will confirm finally that my mind is completely fucked up and filthy

[childtwisted]

really great,interesting post thanks

[Sharon]

Fascinating post! I never think about graffiti as an outlet for politics. Here it's plain vandalism. Thanks for sharing

[Seven Of Nine]

This is very cool. The images are wonderful. Thanks!

[lroy10]

Originally Posted by bloodgasm

AWESOME post! Thanks a bunch.

Amen, what she said.