“Chile Estyle,” the documentary on muralism and street art, hits theaters

Focusing on three street artists—Alejandro “Mono” González, Ceki, and Inti—it premieres this Thursday in Valparaíso. The film also features artists such as Bisy, Juana Pérez, and Anis, who are part of a strong women's movement in Chilean street culture.

A documentary on muralism and street art that hits theaters this week.

“Chile Estyle” explores the past and present of Chile's street art tradition, blending political muralism and graffiti, which have been part of Chilean cultural and political life since the 1960s.

Three street artists—Alejandro “Mono” González, Ceki, and Inti—take viewers on a journey through the walls of different cities across Chile, showcasing their own works and creative processes, as well as those of their peers.

Chile Estyle will premiere in theaters on Thursday, May 22nd at 7:00 PM at Insomnia, Teatro Condell in Valparaíso, and on Friday, May 23rd at 6:45 PM at Centro Arte Alameda – Sala Ceina.

Both screenings will be followed by a film forum, where we will talk with renowned artists who collaborated on the film: Mono González, Iván Miranda (Saile), Isidora Rivas (Bisy), and Daniel Marceli.
Inedit Festival

This film, which premiered at the last edition of the Inedit Festival, takes us on a journey through a world of discovery, starting with the Ramona Parra Brigade and its legacy in political painting. It also incorporates elements of New York and São Paulo graffiti, as well as pop art, with Native American themes and motifs, creating a synthesis of ingredients that created a Chilean style of street art.

As a cultural expression with strong political and social implications, this dynamic form of artistic expression is undeniably important nationally, Latin American, and globally. Santiago de Chile is now considered (by Hervé Chandès, director of the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art), along with São Paulo, one of the two world capitals of graffiti.

Three main characters anchor the film, each representing a specific era, reflecting how street art has reflected Chile's social history.
Three Characters

One is "Mono" González, one of the founders and driving forces behind the Brigades' aesthetic. Ramona Parra shares the development of the Brigades in the late 1960s.

She recounts how the Brigades supported Allende's presidential campaign with large Agit-Prop murals. She also recounts the beginnings of muralism in Chile in the 1940s when Siqueiros, the renowned Mexican master, painted at the Escuela México in Chillán, Chile. She also shares her revolutionary vision of public art. It connects the past with the present.

Cekis, who now lives in New York, is one of the founding fathers of the modern graffiti movement, which took shape in the early 1990s. He tells how graffiti began toward the end of Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile. He also tells us about the new graffiti scene and how it has become one of the powerhouses of Latin America.

Inti is one of Chile's most important street artists. Originally from Valparaíso, he now lives in Europe. The documentary follows him from Valparaíso and Santiago to Montreal and Paris, where he gained international fame. It shows us his entry into the gallery system and how artists navigate the art world and his desire to paint in the street. His personal work is deeply rooted in syncretism and the remixing of different cultures.

There are three characters who represent three different generations of artists who painted on the Chilean streets.
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