Siempre Estuvimos Aquí Festival, Puerto Caldas, Colombia
SIEMPRE ESTUVIMOS AQUÍ
international Project • 2023
SIEMPRE ESTUVIMOS AQUÍ
A powerful portrait created during the Siempre Estuvimos Aqui festival in Puerto Caldas, Colombia, celebrating Afro-Colombian identity and cultural presence. The piece features a woman whose gaze meets the viewer directly, surrounded by colors and patterns that honor the community's deep roots in the region.
Artist's Note
“Painting in Colombia was one of the most transformative experiences of my career. Despite language barriers, the creative connection was immediate. The festival's name — 'We Were Always Here' — carries enormous weight for Afro-Colombian communities asserting their historical presence, and I wanted every brushstroke to honor that assertion.”
— Rachel Dinda
Inspiration
The Afro-Colombian women I met in Puerto Caldas — their strength, their beauty, and their fierce pride in a heritage that has often been marginalized. The festival's theme demanded work that was both beautiful and politically courageous.
The Process
I painted on a rough stone wall that gave the portrait a textural quality I couldn't have planned. Working in the Colombian heat required starting at dawn and taking midday breaks. Community members gathered throughout, offering guidance on cultural elements and ensuring the representation felt authentic. Their input was essential — this wasn't my story to tell alone.
Community Impact
The mural has become a symbol of cultural pride in Puerto Caldas. Festival organizers tell me it's featured in discussions about Afro-Colombian visibility, and community members have adopted it as a meeting point and a source of collective identity.
Project Details
Location
Siempre Estuvimos Aquí Festival, Puerto Caldas, Colombia
Year
2023
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