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?