Cartagena, one of the most iconic cities on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, now has a face that will be featured in street art in one of the city’s malls and in the slums.
SOURCE: This is Cartagena
In a competition, This is Cartagena sought a face to represent the city’s past, and Cartagena’s racial and cultural mix. British street artist Fin DAC — no stranger to Cartagena — was asked to paint the impression of Camacho’s face on some of the coastal city’s walls.
According to Rainbow Nelson, owner of This is Cartagena, the elected model “represents the mix of races here in Cartagena over the last five centuries. She has a look that isn’t totally obvious and fits very well with Fin’s style, which was an important consideration.”
Shirley Camacho, Cartagena’s Face, told Colombia Reports she was honored to represent the city she describes as “a city of magic and stark contrasts. It’s a city that continues to fight and is searching for its identity. It’s a Caribbean city of narrow streets and colorful houses, of friendly, fighting and hard-working people, of exotic smiles, and parks and squares.”
Fin DAC will being painting the first Face of Cartagena on a wall in Plaza Colombia El Castillo Friday afternoon and hopes to be done there on Saturday. Afterwards, the Brit will take his equipment to the impoverished neighborhood of San Francisco to share his art with the local population.
Apart from Fin DAC, six other artists have painted six more Faces of Cartagena. All seven works of art will be auctioned off to collect money for social projects in San Francisco.
Time and location of the event
Plaza Colombia El Castillo
Friday 15:00
Sources
- Interview with Rainbow Nelson
- Interview with Shirley Camacho
- Press release
- La Cara de Cartagena Ciudad de 7 Estrellas (This is Cartagena)
