Artistic expression faces scrutiny in Colombia and Spain

In Colombia, former President Gustavo Petro has criticized the removal of several murals from Inravisión facilities in Bogotá. The decision, made by the new management of the Public Media System, involved removing artworks dedicated to historical and cultural figures such as Simón Bolívar, Gabriel García Márquez, and Jaime Garzón, as well as a mural depicting Petro’s 2024 UN speech. Petro described the move as a “communicational battle” and encouraged youth to continue creating art in public spaces.

In Spain, the Diputación de Valladolid canceled the inauguration of an exhibition titled ‘La Otra Transición vallisoletana’. The artist, Íñigo Varona, has accused the administration of ideological censorship, specifically regarding pieces documenting far-right aggression during the transition period. While the Culture department denies censorship, claiming the artist failed to follow procedural norms by not disclosing all content beforehand, Varona maintains that the administration sought to remove specific historical elements.