The artwork is located at the Pedro de Valdivia Norte entrance of the Santiago Metropolitan Park. It was created by the creative studio Lira Arte Público—specialists in public space interventions led by curator and urban designer Esteban Barrera—in close collaboration with the Santiago Metropolitan Park team, who designed and implemented physical distancing signage, along with this artistic intervention consisting of a floor mural of over 1,000 m² created by Chilean artist Cekis.
Cekis is considered one of the most influential figures in the Chilean graffiti scene, having been one of the pioneers and founders of the movement in Chile during the 1990s. Over 10 years ago, he relocated to New York, where he has also developed a career as a painter, a background that continues to influence his murals and interventions today.
The artwork is inspired by the nature and native flora of the Santiago Metropolitan Park.
The initiative aims to create an attraction that encourages people to return to Parquemet, welcoming visitors with a colorful urban garden that invites them to explore its 737 hectares in a more engaging and safe manner, under the slogan "Juntos nos Cuidamos" ("Together We Protect Each Other").
Soon, another artistic intervention will be carried out by prominent Chilean muralist Anis, in collaboration with the Parquemet team and Lira Arte Público. The artist will depict native fauna in a mural at the Pío Nono entrance.
In addition, physical distancing markers will be installed at strategic points throughout Parquemet—such as Plaza México and the Tupahue sector, to name a few—to ensure proper health and safety distancing once visitors can safely enjoy the park.
Identification Code Markings.
The Santiago Metropolitan Park proactively prepared a social distancing plan under the slogan "Juntos nos cuidamos" to prevent COVID-19 infections during its Pilot Plan. This initiative aligns with the phased "Paso a Paso" (Step-by-Step) reopening plan outlined by the Chilean government, in constant coordination with the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism and the Ministry of Health.
To achieve this, Parquemet implemented guidelines and signage to help users navigate common spaces safely, which were prepared ahead of the reopening. In its first phase, this guide categorized areas into access, transit, and recreation zones.
In a subsequent stage, green identification codes were created, spaced 1.5 meters apart to ensure that visitors maintain a minimum distance of at least one meter, especially in access and recreation areas. In these areas, visitors must use these codes, which vary in diameter depending on their location:
Their primary purpose is to ensure that people within these circles maintain a distance of at least one meter from others, with a maximum of ten individuals allowed in the same sector.
A system will also be established to maintain a 5-meter distance between people moving through the Santiago Metropolitan Park, including runners and fast walkers (transit zones).
It is important to note that during Parquemet's initial reopening phase, entry for cyclists and vehicles of any kind will not be permitted, and will be reassessed in later stages (except for service vehicles).
Client: Parquemet
Area: 1,000 m²
Year: 2020
Mural Design: Nelson Rivas “CEKIS”
Project Manager: Camila Pascual - Parquemet
Project Direction and Curation: Esteban Barrera - Lira Arte Público
Management Support: Juan Ormázabal - Parquemet
Technical Supervision: Matías Fernández - Parquemet
Architecture and Tactical Urbanism: Mario Ormazabal - Lira Arte Público
Mural Execution Lead: Iván Miranda “SAILE”
General Production: Benjamín Oyarzo - Lira Arte Público
Photographs: Parquemet, Lira Arte Público
Paint Supplier: @pinturas_santiago
This article was written by Diego Hernández. The translation is powered by AI.
