Valparaíso is blanketed in murals.
Though there is a dedicated Open Air Museum ("Museo a Cielo Abierto") in Valparaíso, the entire city is truly museum-worthy.
As you can imagine, visitors go bananas taking photos of all the murals. It's hard to resist the temptation, even if you're not a photographer. Comically, the below mural says: "Dear Tourist: Don't go crazy taking photos."
This is the entryway for the place we are renting in Valparaíso. It's adorable, eh?
And the windows on the first floor belong to our bedroom. Whenever we peek out the window, there is always a good chance that someone is snapping this very photo.
And here's the mural on the other side of the building. So creative!
I love this photo of the old lady.
She can be seen a few places around town.
And here's a collage of landscape murals painted on the crumbling brick facade of a building. For scale, the dimensions of this artwork are roughly two feet high and four feet across.
I love how the artist makes it look as though this woman is on a swing.
And the woman in this photo is so full of two-dimensional personality.
I've included a few of my other favorites below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Do you have a favorite?
:)
ReplyDeleteLove them all! Curious how to interpret the one with the skeletons on bicycles. Is it just goofy or is there some social commentary?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question...to which I don't know the answer! Given that the city is quite bike-unfriendly (steep hills, staircases, insane drivers), it's surprising how many bike-related murals are painted on Valpo's walls. My interpretation of the mural is that you're as good as bones if you bike in town. Then again, perhaps the mural refers to the famous Red Bull Urban Downhill Race that is held in town every year. You've probably seen videos of the race posted on Facebook or YouTube. In case you haven't, here's a teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xerxXn_UcjU.
DeleteCan't think of a better mural for a Hostel! Question, though, did you ever see any of the murals int he process of being painted?
ReplyDeleteIndeed! When we first arrived, Lemuria Hostel, across the street from where we are staying, received a face lift. For a few days, an artists painted a mural of a large, artsy telescope on one wall of the hostel. We've seen other artists in action, too -- artists using paint and others creating intricate mosaics. Some of the murals in town have been on the walls for many, many years. The murals in the Open Air Museum, for example, were painted by students from the Catholic University's Institute of Art between the years 1969 and 1973. While many murals age with time, others murals (especially the more significant murals, such as those commissioned or those painted by famous artists) receive a fresh coat of paint every few years.
DeleteWhile looking at these I wondered the same thing, if you saw anyone painting. Now I know you did:) Some beautiful artwork! Thanks for sharing:)
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