NAME OF THE MURAL:
LATIN AMERICAN IDENTITY
This vibrant mural is a tribute to the rich and complex Latin American identity, a celebration of its cultural diversity, its history of resistance, and its unbreakable fighting spirit.
At the heart of the artwork, the map of Latin America unfolds as a living canvas, where iconic faces such as Diego Maradona, Frida Kahlo, Pelé, Messi, Che Guevara, Mercedes Sosa, and Santana converge alongside anonymous representatives of indigenous peoples. The word "Identity," written in large letters, anchors the central theme of the mural, reminding us that our identity is built from the diversity and blend of cultures that shape us.
"Latin America does not cry, it sings!" proclaims the mural, challenging the narrative of pain and resignation. This phrase, taken from the song "Tierra Santa" by Trueno and Víctor Heredia, resonates as an anthem of resistance and hope.
Latin America is presented as the resistance against exploitation, the persistence despite plunder. It is a people that, though wounded, refuses to disappear. Its weathered skin, like leather, endures any climate, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity.
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Verses from the song:
"Latinoamérica," by Calle 13
The quote by Eduardo Galeano: "Freedom belongs to those who create, not those who copy; and freedom belongs to those who think, not those who obey," reinforces the call for autonomy, creativity, and critical thinking as fundamental tools for building a free and just Latin America.
A woman raises the Wiphala, symbol of unity and diversity of the Andean peoples, next to the ancestral name of the continent, Abya Yala.
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The image reclaims the presence and struggle of the original peoples in the construction of Latin American identity.
A tribute to painter Oswaldo Guayasamín is present in the mural through the recreation of some of his iconic works.
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The expressive faces and vibrant colors characteristic of the Ecuadorian artist enhance the visual narrative of the mural, reinforcing its call for solidarity and the defense of human rights in Latin America.
The song:
"Aonikenk" by Hugo Giménez Agüero, highlighted in the mural, is a lament for the loss of the Tehuelche culture in its own land.
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Aonikenk is the name the Tehuelche people, indigenous to Patagonia, used to refer to themselves. It means "people of the south" or "inhabitants of the south."
​The lyrics evoke the image of a free people connected with nature, hunting guanacos and rheas along the Santa Cruz River. The arrival of "other men" brought deception and alcohol, stripping the Tehuelche people of their dignity and land in exchange for "a patacón."
The song becomes a cry of pain and questioning: "Why did they depopulate you if they don't know how to populate you?" and "Why so many ears if they don't know how to listen?"
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This song reinforces the message of the importance of preserving and valuing the history and culture of indigenous peoples, especially in a place like Puerto San Julián, which witnessed their ancestral presence.
All of Argensud's murals are compositions created from texts, phrases, poems, drawings, and paintings by different artists, combined into a digital collage, and then painted with brushes and synthetic enamel on the walls.