This article is important because, unlike other reviews and newspaper articles about the work of the urban intervention group Colectivo Excusado Printsystem—DeadBird, SaintCat, StinkFish, and Ratsonrop are pseudonyms for the members of the group who have worked in Bogotá since 2003—it does not focus solely on the legal or criminal aspect of urban interventions, nor does it discuss the collective’s experiences with Colombian authorities. On the contrary, the article suggests that the collective’s work is of great cultural value and makes a worthwhile contribution to the city and the country’s art scene by creating alternative uses for public spaces and art events, and for changing people’s perceptions of them.
The collective’s work consists of posting graffiti, posters, stickers, and stencils in the city’s outdoor spaces (see: “Excusado Pasquín Intercisternario” doc. no. 1092473). The members of the collective, graduates of the National University of Colombia’s Graphic Design School, advocate a new role for contemporary graphic designers in the city. They claim that: “You learn much more about posters by sticking them on walls, preparing the glue, and getting your hands dirty than by designing them. You don’t really understand how posters work until you can watch how people react when they see that piece of paper and stop to read it even though it does not offer salvation, money, or products.”
