Through an ambitious project aimed at year end, the Municipality of Quilmes attempt to overcome 10 thousand square meters of mural paintings, by spreading the work of outstanding artists.

With the aim of recovering the public space, and with the work headed by locally and internationally recognized artists such as Juan Danna, Martin Rum, Gerardo Montes de Oca and Rubén Minutoli, a job has already been registered that arrived close to 5 thousand square meters of urban painting.

In that context, Mayor Martiniano Molina stated that “we are convinced that culture must be available to everyone, that is why we promote that the neighbors can enjoy a work of excellent quality in their neighborhood” and added: “we want to demystify the idea that art can only be appreciated in museums or galleries and, in that sense, we decided to take this activity to the street”.

Regarding the locations of these artistic interventions, the skatepark located under the Bridge 14 of August (led by Martin Ron, one of the ten most important muralists in the world).

“The idea is to value this space that brings together urban culture, the rap, skateboarding and graffiti; and move this work to the other side of the road to achieve a visual unity that connects both bridges. The intervention has a double objective: create a friendlier environment for the neighbor and not silence the voices of the boys who paint graffiti”, Ron explained.

Meanwhile, Juan Danna, renowned artist who during 30 years he made large-scale murals in cinematography, theaters, basilicas and cathedrals, carries out two other important works in the city. One on the wall of Vicente López and Amoedo, which is carried out in conjunction with the Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes and, as explained, consists of several parts: “The first part of the mural tells the story of Quilmes, from town, from the brewery. The second part has to do with the old posters of the company, with the graph of the time, to tell the transformation of communication. In the central part -which are the large panels, eight meter high walls- we are going to tell what gave rise to the name Quilmes, What does it have to do with the Cacán people?, with the seed, with barley. The last cloths have to do with the future, What kind of society do we want to live in?.

The other intervention in charge of Danna is that of the Ezpeleta cemetery. about this work, he explained: “It was born from a back and forth with the neighbors. In one of the walls it is about honoring the female image and in another we pay homage to our ancestors. The rose is the object that appears in the two paintings made so far and that we want to respect as a concept”.

“Quilmes, a city with stories

Another outstanding artist who also brings urban art to the streets of the district is Rubén Minutoli, who was summoned by the Municipality to make murals in the public space under the motto "Quilmes, a city with stories. On miter avenue, one of the stages where Minutoli displayed his talent, it was decided to represent the culture of the Kilme Indians, native people of our city. “The idea in muralism —said the artist— is that it tells the story and, at the same time, teaches. I am convinced that in public art there must be a commitment and a responsibility, which is to be able to teach. There are many people who live in the district and do not know that the name of Quilmes derives from the Indians, That is why we set ourselves this task.”.

Art in the neighborhoods

This urban beautification and public art initiative is complemented by the "Paint your neighborhood" project, which is coordinated and curated by the artist and professor Gerardo Montes de Oca.. Murals have already been painted in the Los Álamos and Monte Matadero neighborhoods. It is planned to carry out new urban paintings in Los Eucaliptus, IAPI, Kolynos and Itati. About this proposal, Montes de Oca indicated: “I am certain that it is viable and truly transformative thanks to the experience that having worked since 2014 in the Pinto la Isla project, on Maciel Island, where more than 200 murals”.

This project is the artist's own idea, who has the support of private companies that make it possible for Montes de Oca to retrace his talent in the streets of Quilmeña.