CONCERTS & SHOWS: LADY GAGA IN BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA

Some of my posts were deleted by accident, so I’m just putting this one back up.

This was Lady Gaga’s concert in Bogotá in the Fall of 2012.

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART & GRAFFITI: PEZ & RANDOM FRIENDS

I’m in the process of streamlining my blog and it’s forcing me to revisit my past – the many places I’ve been…whilst sitting here in lockdown. A flurry of emotions…Gratitude & Wanderlust…

This is a classic smiling Pez – his character has evolved over the years, but this is one I snapped early on in Bogotá back in 2012.

Bogotá, Colombia. October 2012.

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART: ‘LOVE TATTOO” by TOXICOMANO, DjLU, & LESIVO

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The mural above is on the side of the building facing Septima.

7OCT12. The Chapinero, Bogotá, Colombia. 

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART: WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

This wall combining the efforts of all three amazing street artists, is opposite the Plaza de Toros de Santamaria (Bogota’s Bullfighting stadium.)

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Monkey & A Peace Sign by Lesivo

It seems to me like these guys think a lot about evolution and that humanity hasn’t really evolved effectively. Hence, the peace sign with the monkey. There are usually more violent symbols associated with the humans in their works.

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Man in a Chemical Suit by DjLu

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Monkey in a Hat by Lesivo

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Disillusioned Girl, Probably a Drug Addict, by Toxicomano

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Indigenous Woman with Child by DjLu, Evil Birdman by Lesivo

The woman is holding a sign that says “Nobody Wins.” This section of the mural depicts the two opposing sides in the class war that is so prevalent in Colombia: the poor desperately needing representation, and the powerful wealthy elite that rule the country on their own terms.

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Corruption and Beauty by Lesivo

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Fox and Four-Headed Cheetah by DjLu

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Four-Headed Cheetah and Boy by Toxicomano

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Cheetah and Boy by Toxicomano, Tattooed Punk Jester by DjLu

DjLu’s character looks almost like a court jester with his make-up on and his pointed boots. He appears to be balancing the globe on his knee (notice that it is dangerously close to the edge) while doing a Tai-Chi pose and his left hand is poised in the yogi-namaste gesture. We need peace and balance to save the world.

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Good Girl Gone Tramp by Lesivo

Notice the good little girl with the good intent of getting educated and following the dream of her parents (in the lightbulb,) but her eyes portray a fear, almost an inevitability of what she will be made to do and made to become, to get ahead in this world.

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Two Women by Lesivo

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Woman by Lesivo, Homeless Man by DjLu

With clenched fist, the man says he knows it’s all about guns (power) and money (wealth) so he’ll live in this perpetual state, for how can he emerge?

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Scream by Toxicomano

Notice the outline of the yellow dog that is on the attack of the man.

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Black Man Screaming for Justice While White Man Remains Silent, Toxicomano.

The title I gave it says it all.

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Man Covers his Mouth in the Face of Injustice by Lesivo

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Angry Monkeys by Lesivo

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A Brighter Future by DjLu

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Free Expression by DjLu

The Story this wall tells: The world began with peace and a simpler species ruled the planet. In the interim, the species evolved into humans, which were supposed to be more intelligent and were supposed to do the right thing for mankind. Instead, the world is worse off than its ever been, it’s at its breaking point, and humans are responsible for this condition. You see Lesivo’s angry monkeys attacking the scenes before them, demolishing them, letting the humans know that they did not make a better world, they’ve destroyed it. The next panel depicts two smiling boys by DjLu, which indicates that there is a brighter tomorrow, that we can change the world and make it right again.

All Pictures: 7OCT12. Bogotá, Colombia. 

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART: CAPITALISM IS THE ENEMY by CRiSP

I found some more work from Australian artist, Crisp. This is located around Septima y Calle 52 or so…I don’t think it’s Obama necessarily that Crisp is raging against. Rather, I think it would be any U.S. President or Western leader. They all seem to represent the problems with the world: debt, war, hate, greed, pollution, and fraud. The indigenous people pictured next to the evil capitalist, are the people who essentially started this world. They’re the ones who respect the earth and approach the world with purity. The powers that be have ruined the simplicity and destroyed the opposing forces of monetary balance, peace, love, generosity, clean air, and truth. Notice two things: First, Crisp has his name with the proper ideals on the clothing of the indigenous people, while obviously Obama is cloaked in the opposite. Secondly, someone has tagged an “L,” I’m assuming for “Loser,” on Obama’s head and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t Crisp. But, I could be wrong. I’m awaiting verification.

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7OCT12. Septima y Calle 50s. Bogotá, Colombia. 

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART & GRAFFITI: TATTOOS

This is really cool. I can’t remember who the woman is painted by, but I can see a CRISP tribal mask tattoo on her arm.

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I ‘think’ this is Rodez because one of his tendencies is to paint multiple eyes.

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I haven’t seen any other ones by ‘Sluto,’ but this is on the side of a building in La Candelaria.

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29SEP12. Bogotá, Colombia. 

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA: “IT SHOWS ON YOUR FACE”

I thought these were striking. Unfortunately, I don’t know who the artists are. On Calle 19. 29SEP12. Bogota, Colombia.

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BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART: BASTARDILLA

Bastardilla (“Italics” in English) is one of the leading female street artists. She’s known for doing very large murals depicting women experiencing different forms of isolation or sadness. This one on a huge wall facing a children’s playground, shows a woman inhaling daggers. She has murals all over the world including Madrid, Guatemala City, and Boston. Sadly, there’s a story that Bastardilla was raped in Bogotá when she was younger and that experience has served to influence her paintings of women. 29SEP12. Bogotá, Colombia.

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