This week’s Wylde blog is all about (another) adventure of in-house Wylde graffiti artist Harriet and her very recent trip to Colombia! She was invited to the third Ibanasca Festival, hosted in the magical riverside town of Honda in the Tolima region of the country. The theme for this year’s festival was “Mujeres y Saberes” which translates as “ Women & Wisdom” – a familiar theme to the Wylde team we must say!! The project was part of the British Council’s Culturo Circulo programme – similarly to last year’s adventure in the Brazilian Amazon. If you’ve not read it, you can check out that blog here; https://www.wyldeia.co.uk/wyldelife-in-the-amazon/
The project began with a 5 hour journey from Bogotá (a high up city with a climate surprisingly similar to the UK!) winding through the Andes to the tropical and very hot town of Honda – located in the heart of Colombia; which on a map is bang in between Bogotá and Medellin. Honda is special because it’s a town on the largest river in the country; the Magdalena. As a result the town’s identity has been forged with the river; its history, culture, myths and legends all stemming from the waters. Ibanasca Festival is itself, named after the mythical woman who dwells in the river!
After arriving at a beautiful house in one of the famous old cobbled streets in the town “Calle De Las Trampas” the artists set off on a tour of the murals painted for the previous festivals most of which were themed around the wildlife and tales of the Magdalena river. The artists then bundled onto a boat to explore the river itself – seeing birds, tortoises even fish along the banks. Next stop was the Museo del Rio – the river museum that showcased and explained everything from the indigenous river people, its wildlife, the vast myths and legends, the fishing and the industrialisation of the town. The artists were then sent away to design their murals armed with all of the information of the day!
As the only English speaker in the project – Harriet decided to base her design for her mural around the way the English language has many phrases and saying to do with the mind, emotions, wisdom … that are connected with water. The design is a woman submerged in the river waters, bathing with one of the traditional fishing nets cast beside her. She used her recognisable rich colour palette and made some local friends (and helpers!) in the process!
Another successful adventure, experience and mural in the bag! Check out the gallery for some not so autumnal or wintery photos for the “Women & Wisdom” Ibanasca Festival for 2024 in Honda, Colombia.
