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When you run into a 13-foot tall heart in the District this month, the Colombian government would like you to think happier thoughts about its country.
Dozens of these heart-shaped sculptures popped up all over Washington at the end of last week, and we've been getting a lot of questions about what they're doing here and what they mean. The hearts themselves are part of an official advertising campaign, dubbed "Discover Colombia Through its Heart," from the Colombian government's tourism board, which has taken the form of a traveling international art exhibit.
Colombia, you see, realizes it has a pretty big public relations obstacle to overcome.
"Every time someone says Colombia, you think kidnapping, you think crime, you think drugs," explained campaign spokesperson Gretchen Hamel, but "it's safe to go to Colombia now."
Thus, the hearts. Giant heart sculptures = opposite of kidnappings. Got it?
The exhibit is making its first stop here in Washington, on display at Union Station through Sept. 15, and will then move on to New York City and Shanghai. There are 47 heart statues in all, each differently decorated but all bearing an advertising message for Colombia, of which 40 have been placed at locations around the District, with the remaining seven part of the exhibit at Union Station.
At least one group thinks there are more practical motives behind the Colombian hearts. A web site has popped up, Colombiavisit.org, which accuses the administration of Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez of creating the heart campaign as a way to "push Congress to drop its opposition to the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement." The group is planning a protest this morning in Union Station, featuring, among other things, "disruptive street theatre simulating illegal military action." At the exact same time, representatives of the Colombian ad campaign will be passing out 25,000 free flowers inside the station today.
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I think most experience Columbia mostly through the nose.
I think most people experience ColUmbia by driving 30 min to it.
Has anyone bothered to crack open one of these hearts? I bet they're filled with cocaine.
The heart looks a little bit like it was just ripped out of someone's chest, aorta still attached, and is dripping onto the ground. Probably to remind us of what will happen if we don't make ransom.
They already did this giant sculpture thing before with pandas, and before that, Chicago did it with cows. Hell, even David Lynch got in on the act. At a certain point, your "message" becomes a victim of your artistic abstraction and pretentiousness. So by all means, do plant giant painted penii on the sidewalks of DC as a reminder for men to not think with their dick and to do the world a favor and get yourself and your partner spayed/neutered. This message brought to you by the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement.
This hearts campaign is just a way to put a pretty face on a very ugly government. Colombia engages in systematic aggression against workers that is unlike anything anywhere else in the world. It would be disgraceful for the Unitd States to excuse Colombia's behavior with a trade deal.
That red sculpture looks a lot like the red monster from the old Warner Brothers cartoons (the one who wore sneakers and got his hair styled by Bugs Bunny.) Am I the only one who sees the resemblence?
His name is Gossamer and yes, there is a resemblance.
Also, does anyone else get mildly aroused when Bugs Bunny gets dressed up like a sexy rabbit in order to seduce Elmer Fudd? No? Alright then.
Not mildly, no.
I usually really like stuff like this as I am a big proponent temporary public art (NYC-please get rid of that 70's "LOVE" sculpture)
The problem with this is that the art is not that good. The aorta's ruin it.
I'm probably biased on this, but I much prefer the Panda Sculptures from years ago. I wouldn't go to Columbia if you wrapped me in papers and lit me on fire.
Back on the burro, Liz.
Not you too Liz?
Colombia with an o.Lo siento, senor. Esta Colombia, si. Si.
Why all the hating on Columbia? The country has it all. Guns, drugs, and excellent coffee!
You know, other than a (partial) shared name and a shared history of narcotics trafficking, violence and corrupt leadership, DC has absolutely nothing in common with Colombia. I mean, hardly anything in common really.
"Fernando Vidal? It's M.B."
"Ah, Marion Barry! Is it time for another shipment?"
When I think of Columbia I think of Shakira, but honestly I don't think of Columbia very much.
And apprently I also don't think of the correct spelling for Colombia very often, if at all.
Colombia= aguardiente!
I got drunk for the first time in my life at the age of 15 during a trip to Bogota. Aguardiente was the culprit. That stuff is truly awful.
It makes me think of Colombian organ thieves.
There you go spreading more disinformation. It's well known that Colombia has their organ theft problem relatively under control and that it is Columbia, MD that suffers the most casualties in this area. And where do you think Larry Hagman got all his extra organs? Argentina?
Hmm, NYT in Uribe's promo pocket?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/greathomesanddestinations/09gh-househunting-1.html