We have a departure for Chilean muralist INTI today – no figurative mystic signaling secret truths to you from under a hood. This is “El Tamarugo”, a colorful depiction of the native tree of Chile that thrives in arid climates, like the Atacama desert. The artist chose the piece not only to marvel at its abilities but to talk about the “devastation of resources caused by mega-mining in these lands,” he says.
“SQM, the world’s No. 2 lithium producer, cut a deal with Chile in 2018 that allowed it to ramp up output from the Atacama,” says reporter Dave Sherwood from Reuters, “a remote and fragile desert salt flat whose indigenous inhabitants fear may be jeopardized by mining.”
Using pattern and palette from the indigenous cultures of his country, INTI pays tribute to the tree and the fortitude of people who resist the greedy who damage the lands and drain them of life. The Tamarugo as a symbol speaks to “The ability of this species to survive,” he says. “It has been vital to the communities that inhabit these places since ancient times, and a symbol of life and resistance.”
Project Name: “Iquique En Color Es”
Organized by @nomadesert
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
Welcome to BSA Images of the Week. A painted portrait of Emmett Till, who would have turned 79 yesterday, leads the collection of images this week. A 14 year old sweet faced boy who was bruta...
"endangering the morality and purity of the German race", said §175 of the Criminal Code when referring to gay people. Lies like that persist in other countries today, as does persecution of s...
The dudes from Pawnworks are back in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago with the "Art in Public Places" project and Stinkfish is here for his first time in the US. Nick Marzullo tells us this is only ...
“Grand Mozeur Feukeur.” French Street Artist Julien de Casabianca is debuting a new series of photographs that may appear as a surprising departure from his previous multi-year multi-city OUTI...
This week BSA is in Borås, a municipality in south-western Sweden for the 3rd edition of No Limit, a mural arts festival that brings Street Artists from around the world to create new works ...