MUVA museum launches visual vallenato exhibition in Valledupar

The Museum of Memories and Narratives of Traditional Vallenato Music (MUVA) has transitioned from a virtual project to a physical exhibition with its first major presentation at the Centro Cultural La Leyenda in Valledupar. Inaugurated on September 4, the exhibition features approximately 60 works, including large-format oil paintings, sculptures, and pieces from the Ucronías graphic collection.

The collection aims to translate the oral traditions and poetic narratives of vallenato music into visual forms. Works are inspired by iconic songs such as ‘El Torero’, ‘Tiempos de la cometa’, and ‘El Hambre del Liceo’ by composer Rafael Escalona. The project is led by cultural manager and collector Ricardo Quintero Araújo, who has spent nearly two decades building the collection to preserve the heritage of vallenato, which is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The exhibition involves artists from Valledupar, Barranquilla, and Bogotá, creating a dialogue between visual arts and the musical history of the Magdalena Grande region.