Brocha, the first free muralism school in Chile, was born in Renca

Chile is a country of muralists. From the Ramona Parra Brigade to today’s sophisticated urban art, paintings that use the city as a canvas have marked our history, beautifying the city and generating memory and identity. Despite this legacy, there is a hotbed of talents that have not yet come to light or have not had the networks to develop their work. This is how Brocha emerges, the first Chilean school of muralism that debuts as a unique space for the creative development of muralists in our country.

Brocha is a free school, promoted by the educational area of ​​the Lira Arte Público Foundation in collaboration with the Municipality of Renca and which is part of the celebration of the 130 years of the commune.

In this sense, Claudio Castro, mayor of Renca comments, “Renca has a strong identity and a history of more than 130 years, a memory that we have wanted to capture in different neighborhoods through art. For this reason, together with Lira Arte Público, we promote Brocha, the first free muralism school in Chile. There, 16 students, 8 of them from Renca, toured the territory, talked with the neighbors and expressed their visions in 20 murals, which join others that have already been painted in the commune to transform Renca into an open-air museum. that also attracts residents from other communities.”

In this first version of Brocha, 16 students worked with outstanding artist-teachers who guided them in a theoretical and practical learning process. The result was 20 murals painted in Renca, which today are available to the public in 4 circuits.

Although the school is currently concentrated in Renca, Brocha intends to expand to other territories.

Talents and guides

The teaching guides were prominent figures of national art such as Estefanía Leigthon STFI, Giovanni Zamora GIOVA, Miguel Angel KASTRO, Florencia Campóo MOFF, Felipe HENRUZ and Patricio Albornoz. Lira Arte Publico has been working on art in public spaces for more than a decade, both in its creative studio, art gallery and recent foundation. Its founder is Esteban Barrera, who also directs the Escuela Brocha:

“The municipality has asked us to create a mural circuit and in this we see the opportunity to found a muralism school located in the territory, with the mission of professionalizing the medium and generating new opportunities for local artists,” says Barrera who considers Brocha as an innovative project.

“Brocha has the premise of finding and professionalizing latent talents, in this sense we are pioneers in the creation of a professional training platform for new muralists. We believe in the importance of relaunching other models of popular education, especially in a discipline that is forged in the streets.”

The work of the muralist STFI represents the Latin American worldview, the female figure and nature. And she was one of the six teachers at the school: “The process was very inspiring. It is the first muralism school where people with and without experience can learn all aspects of muralism. More than 200 people applied, demonstrating the great interest that art generates in public spaces. I participated in the first audition to select students and I was impressed by the diversity of the human group, which made the selection difficult, but that diversity also enriched the school and the results of the works.”

Allpaca is one of the 16 students of this first generation of Brocha and created the mural “El vuelo” (The Flight), located at Combate Naval 1682, Renca. She defines it as: “a work that invites us to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature. As a resident of the commune, the figure of Cerro Renca is very important to me, one of the three Cerros Islas that make up the Cerros de Renca Park. It is very relevant because of the biodiversity that they house, the amount of flora and fauna that there is, and because it is a refuge, a space where we can get away from this city so full of cement and connect with other emotions.”

And he adds: “I feel happy to have been part of the school, to receive the knowledge of the teachers and my classmates, who, like me, are passionate about communicating and transmitting through art. Brocha gave us professionalism and also an impulse to continue our path in muralism.”

The launch and guided tour will take place on June 28 at 12:00 p.m., and will begin at the Liceo Cumbre de Cóndores Poniente (Av. Brasil 7965, Renca). The activity is free and the stories behind the 20 murals are available on Instagram @escuelabrocha.