El Salvador artists paint over former gang walls

Urban artists in El Salvador are filling walls once marked by gangs with large murals, using a traveling festival to bring color to towns including Concepcion de Ataco in Ahuachapan.

About a dozen painters used spray paint to depict jaguars, faces, flowers, birds and other local images in the mountain town about 65 km west of San Salvador.

Isaac Sosa, 31, founder and organiser of the Pigmen Trip festival, said it was once frightening to paint in gang areas because of harassment. He said artists now feel a different atmosphere, with more peace and freedom of expression.

The festival has been held for eight years in different parts of El Salvador. More than 200 murals have been created, with artists from El Salvador as well as Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Argentina.

Artist Darwin Flores said painters previously had to take precautions before entering so-called hot zones. Cristian Juarez, another artist, said painting had become easier, while also saying many artists had been victims of gangs and are now disappeared.

Gangs have lost power in El Salvador during President Nayib Bukele's campaign against them since 2022. NGOs have alleged abuses in that campaign that could constitute crimes against humanity.