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Cartagena has an impressive collection of street art gracing the walls and buildings of the city, and now the long, black wall of La Curra breakwater has also been transformed into a colourful tapestry of art and history thanks to the efforts of more than 100 urban artists from across Spain. Over the course of a sun-drenched weekend, the wall, which stretches for more than 2,000 square metres, was painted with vibrant murals celebrating the city’s 3,000-year heritage.

 

The location, a favourite among locals for walking, jogging and cycling, now offers an added attraction: a living, open-air art gallery. The initiative, part of the ‘Fondo Negro’ urban art project, was brought to Cartagena by the City Council’s Youth Department in collaboration with the Port Authority and Urban CT Youth.

 

The event drew some of the biggest names in Spanish street art, including Goyo 2003 and Cartagena-born artist Kraser, whose international reputation has helped establish muralism as a central artistic movement in the city. Over three days, participants brought the city’s rich history to life with vivid depictions of maritime culture, mythological figures and ancient Carthaginian and Roman themes.

 

Launched in 2014 in Badajoz, ‘Fondo Negro’ takes its name from the black backgrounds typically used in street art murals, tones that make the final images all the more striking. This year marked the project’s first appearance in Cartagena, and the response from the public has been enthusiastic.

 

Councillor for Youth José Martínez visited the site during the event, observing the artists at work as they battled both the wall and the high temperatures. Their efforts now form a lasting tribute to the city’s past, while also contributing to its evolving cultural identity.

 

The finished murals are being integrated into the city’s constantly expanding open-air museum of urban art, which is mapped and promoted through the app Street Museum Cartagena smcartagena.es.

 

Visitors strolling along La Curra can now enjoy not just sweeping views of the port, but also a vivid journey through the city’s history, rendered in bold lines and bright colour.

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena