Juan Barco

<div>The Boermarke in Crooswijk has been brightened up considerably thanks to a new mural by the Colombian artist Juan Barco. "I like to make great works of art."<br><br>The new mural was created thanks to a collaboration between Havensteder and the neighbourhood. District manager Ron Klove of the housing corporation got the ball rolling.<br>He explains: 'As neighborhood managers, we indicate every year what is needed to keep our neighborhood livable, whole, clean and safe. We also have a budget for that. To me, a work of art on the bare facade on the Boermarke seemed like an asset to the neighborhood.'<br>And Ron also knew exactly which artist he wanted to use for this: Juan Barco. The Colombian made a striking work of art in the Agniesebuurt last year.<br>Ron also knocked on the door of active neighborhood resident Els van Vliet. She was immediately enthusiastic about the idea and involved her neighbors. Ron says: ' Els showed the residents what was possible. And asked them what they would like.”<br>There was a peasant theme. As a kind of ode to the street names in this neighborhood. Artist Juan set to work energetically. In a few weeks he painted huge cow heads and a farmer on the facade of the Boermarke.<br>“Everyone who saw me work was very happy,” says Juan. 'I only got positive reactions.' And he himself also enjoyed working on this. "I like to make great works of art."<br><br></div>

<div>Artist Juan Barco spent five weeks working on it. But the mural on the Ammersooiseplein is now really finished. The work is called 'Libertad', or: 'Freedom'. Women in high heels, just getting on their bikes.<br><br>When the Colombian Juan Barco first came to the Netherlands, that image made him very happy. 'I had never seen anything like it. "For me that is real freedom, that you can cycle everywhere despite those heels. " tells Juan.<br>Juan thought it was such a beautiful image that he even made a 10 meter high mural of it.&nbsp;<br>He came up with this idea after a visit to his sisters- in- law who live near the Ammersooiseplein. Standing on their balcony, Juan's eye fell on a large stretch of white wall, on the apartment building opposite. As an artist he immediately saw opportunities.<br>With the help of his girlfriend, he submitted a residents' initiative to the Agniesebuurt district council. With the proposal to provide the wall with a colorful painting. The ward council agreed.&nbsp;<br>Juan is very proud of the work that has now been completed. 'Oh, I certainly hope to be able to do more murals. They bring so much color and cheerfulness.'</div>

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Juan Barco

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