Special Colombia Now!
Contemporary Colombia: 14 Cultural Heroes And Highlights Worth Knowing
Slide Nr 1Colombia boasts of great cultural riches across all areas of the arts, from literature to music, architecture and visual art – not to mention the equally rich legacy of its past that can be seen in the various artisan products sought out by collectors at home and abroad. After a troubled era marked by internal conflict that has left lingering stereotypes, Colombia has resurfaced culturally and is today, more than ever, demonstrating that it has the talent necessary to excel in the artistic and cultural world. Here are the creative minds, marvels and movements that symbolise the new Colombian cultural scene.
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Special Colombia Now!
Contemporary Colombia: 14 Cultural Heroes And Highlights Worth Knowing.
Slide Nr 2THE ARCHITECT – In the architectural arena, one name especially stands out for his captivating modern design projects: Benjamín Cadena. Born in Bogotá and based in New York, this talented architect has focused the work of his award-winning Studio Cadena on the creation of genuinely innovative projects in the cultural, commercial, residential and civic spheres that make a lasting impression on those who visit them. Among his key designs are recent installations in New York and the expansion of the Lima Museum of Art (MALI). In 2016, Cadena won the American Institute of Architects’ ‘New Practices NY Award’, which recognises the finest emerging talents in architecture. [Image © Benjamín Cadena]
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Special Colombia Now!
Contemporary Colombia: 14 Cultural Heroes And Highlights Worth Knowing.
Slide Nr 5THE SYMBOL OF TRADITION – A poncho-style garment originating in the Andes, the ruana is deeply woven into Colombian history and tradition. In today’s fashion world, where the ongoing trend for ponchos and capes appears to be unstoppable, the ruana represents the original, authentic template: Colombians can be proud to wear a garment that might be called a ‘trend’ elsewhere, but here is part of their roots. This warming outer garment is originally from the cooler Andean region and consists of a square or rectangular four-pointed blanket made of 100% virgin wool, with a hole in the centre for the head. Although the ruana is characteristic of the inhabitants of the Cundiboyacense highlands, it can also be found in other places such as Pasto, Antioquia and Caldas. However, its true source is Nobsa, in Boyacá, where you’ll find both modern and traditional weaves of a quality that also ensures their export to Italy, Spain, the United States and beyond. [Photo: momentcaptured1/Flickr]
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Special Colombia Now!
Contemporary Colombia: 14 Cultural Heroes And Highlights Worth Knowing.
Slide Nr 6THE BOOK – Ángela Becerra, an award-winning Cali-born author whose work is rich in emotion and imagination, has once again delighted her audience with her latest novel Algún día, hoy [‘Someday, Today’]. The narrative is based on actual events in 1920 in Colombia and tells the story of Bathsheba Espinal, who at only 23 years old becomes the heroine of one of the first female strikes in history. The writer builds a monument to the purest friendship by wrapping her protagonists in a passionate circle of love that, however, leads to a surprising end. The novel has become one of the best-selling books in the country, and recently won the 2019 Fernando Lara Novel Award.
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Special Colombia Now!
Contemporary Colombia: 14 Cultural Heroes And Highlights Worth Knowing.
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THE WRITER – Also from Cali, respected journalist Melba Escobar is one of the most prolific literary talents of recent times, whose diverse works have garnered worldwide acclaim and whose journalism has appeared in the most influential media outlets. Escobar has been formally recognised by a number of important organisations, receiving grants from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, as well as Colombia’s Ministry of Culture to continue her work, which has been characterised by its illumination of a country fractured by violence, radical ideology and profound underlying inequity. House of Beauty is her most acclaimed work, a breakthrough novel provides a window into the class structure of Bogotá society, and has already been translated into more than 12 languages.6/14
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