xomatok references traditional andean textiles in staircase murals in peru

STREET ARTIST XOMATOK ADDS COLOR TO PERUVIAN COMMUNITIES

colorful stairs, neighbors who identify with their community and the promotion of both art and culture are the results of pinta lima: bicentennial edition — a project promoted by the municipality of lima. the initiative saw street artist xomatok jointly work with community members to infill the streets with vibrant murals, reflecting on the neighborhood’s cultural memory and the history of each community.

with the purpose of disseminating the various cultural manifestations of the city, the project aims to promote and recognize art as an important vehicle for the sustainable development of the community.

images by jeremy flores

xomatok PROPOSES TO ALTER SPACES THROUGH DESIGN, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE MANIFESTATIONS OF COLORS

since 2007, the artist has ventured into urban art, an experience that has led him to intervene in various public and private spaces, receiving recognition within the peruvian and global urban art scenes. his work proposes to alter spaces through design, with an emphasis on the manifestations of colors and the relationships of humans and the environment. with his latest project for the municipality of lima, the artist recovers public spaces by depositing colors that give life to everyday spaces.

studies have found that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder. dubbed the broken windows theory, the study therefore implies that well-maintained areas help to reduce vandalism. to help low-income areas in the peruvian capital, visual artist and art director xomatok has left his mark through vivid and fresh colors, printing unique images on walls, stairways and abandoned buildings.

the staircase murals were created in collaboration with the local community

xomatok says that his public art intervention invites viewers to take off the blindfold and overcome the blindness that many have, particularly decision-makers, when it comes to the fact that humans need art and beauty. for his project, he has referenced the fabrics on the typical blankets, called llicllas, used by people who live in the andes.

by adding color to low-income areas, the project aims to help communities