The Art Scene of Loja Ecuador

COLLECTIVE - Wabi-Sabi Official statement: "Artists’ Collective of the city of Loja, spreading the art of our artists and realized cultural projects." Based on the Japanese philosophy "Wabi Sabi" which finds beauty in the simple, the perfect imperfect. Art exhibitions, murals, and more. Recent exhibitions include: “Contrasts” in the Casona Cultural (2018), “The Beauty of Imperfection" at City Gate (2018), "Lifting Flight" in the Sala Eduardo Kingman (2017). Portion of a mural for the 18 November School made by the collective facebook.com/Wabi-Sabi

Mural by Salvador Bustamante, painted over by municipal authorities in 2018 Murals and Street Art One need not go far in Loja to encounter contemporary art - many walls throughout the city are host to a variety of visuals. The history of murals in Loja dates back into the 19th century with interior decoration of the churches. Murals have been used as a means to publically tell stories about history, religion, politics, and folklife since then. The contemporary art that we consider today as more "typical" large-scale muralistic decoration in the city began in the early 1970's. You will still discover "official" (government sponsored) murals depicting historical figures and events, but the more exciting finds crop up in unexpected places - like temporary barrier walls around construction sites, people's privately walled gardens, playgrounds, and other unique areas. You will also come across interior murals in quite a number of buildings. While som...