STREET ART

A mural by ‘Toxicómano’ and other local artists

When I first saw the art pictured above, I spent a few minutes trying to make sense of it. Whilst some things were obvious – the grenades and AK47’s as indicators of violence, for example – there were other things that I couldn’t quite work out. Who were the people? Why the flies?

The piece was done by a street collective called Toxicómano. They aim to inform and remind people in Bogotà of social issues. Street art has allowed the group, as well as many others, to share their opinions and emotions and this has been particularly important as the country moves past it’s violent history.

Although I did not fully understand the piece pictured above, it had made me stop and think. As I began to learn about the ‘false positives’ scandal upon which it is based, I realised the piece had done exactly what it was supposed to. The people in the picture represent the homeless who were lured to remote areas by the army, under the belief there would be opportunities for employment. Once there, they were killed and presented to the authorities as guerrilleros. The idea was to inflate the body count of rebels killed in battle so that the soldiers would receive promotions and other benefits. 

Toxicomano’s pieces can be found across the city and are beginning to gain international recognition as a result of social media. The piece has featured on the sites of National Geographic, Culture Trip and New York Magazine. These are reputable sites, used by tourists to find places worth visiting, and this has contributed to their popularity. Not only this, but the art offers real insight into Colombian culture, as opposed to the glossy picture that is sometimes painted by tourist information.