Picturing peace: murals and memory in Colombia

Abstract

The painting of murals and graffiti is a widespread and well-established practice in Colombia. Most of the artwork is not directly political. However, a significant number of murals speak directly to the political problems of the society; to the protracted violent political conflict and the emerging peace process in Colombia. They articulate the memory of violence and represent the demands of victims for acknowledgement, reparation and justice. That articulation varies through different regions in Colombia, depending on the balance of forces between guerrillas, former paramilitaries and the state. The phenomenon of mural painting represents the meeting between victims’ agency and activist art in Colombia.