Art, when the city speaks in relief [en/es]
Hello, Daily Blog friends!
Today I woke up bright and early with a very clear mission: top up my mom's phone balance. With Etecsa's new regulations, economy flights can only be activated once a month, so to avoid any inconvenience, I decided to transfer the balance from mine. But when I tried, I got a surprise: I had forgotten my PIN! I took a deep breath, gathered my patience, and headed to the Etecsa sales office to resolve the problem.
Upon arrival, I found a short line. I thought it would only be a matter of minutes, but time passed slowly. What in theory should be a quick process ended up becoming an exercise in patience. When my turn finally came, the agent unlocked my PIN in seconds. Who would have thought it! A minimal solution that, as so often, becomes a small odyssey in our reality.
¡Hola, amigos del Blog Diario!
Hoy me desperté temprano con una misión muy clara: recargar el saldo del teléfono de mi mamá. Con las nuevas regulaciones de Etecsa, los vuelos económicos solo se pueden activar una vez al mes, así que para evitar inconvenientes, decidí transferir el saldo del mío. Pero al intentarlo, me llevé una sorpresa: ¡había olvidado mi PIN! Respiré hondo, armé de paciencia y me dirigí a la oficina de ventas de Etecsa para resolver el problema.
Al llegar, encontré una fila corta. Pensé que solo sería cuestión de minutos, pero el tiempo pasó lentamente. Lo que en teoría debería ser un proceso rápido terminó convirtiéndose en un ejercicio de paciencia. Cuando finalmente llegó mi turno, el agente desbloqueó mi PIN en segundos. ¡Quién lo hubiera dicho! Una solución mínima que, como tantas otras veces, se convierte en una pequeña odisea en nuestra realidad.
With my password restored and the problem solved, I headed out briskly. I could now transfer the balance to my mom, and I took the opportunity to enjoy a stroll back home. The recent rains had splashed life into the flamboyant and bougainvillea trees, imbuing the city with an almost festive color. Havana, as always, finding ways to shine in the everyday.
Con mi contraseña restaurada y el problema resuelto, salí a toda prisa. Ya podía transferirle el saldo a mi mamá y aproveché para dar un paseo de regreso a casa. Las lluvias recientes habían revitalizado los extravagantes árboles y buganvillas, dotando a la ciudad de un color casi festivo. La Habana, como siempre, encontraba la manera de brillar en lo cotidiano.
It was then, as I turned onto 25th and 22nd Street, that I discovered an unexpected corner of urban art and beauty: every wall on that block was decorated with community murals. It wasn't just paint—the most striking feature was the high-relief faces, which emerged from the mural like living sculptures. The bodies, painted in a flatter style, created a visual dialogue.
Fue entonces, al girar hacia la calle 25 y 22, que descubrí un rincón inesperado de arte y belleza urbana: cada pared de esa cuadra estaba decorada con murales comunitarios. No era solo pintura; lo más llamativo eran los rostros en altorrelieve, que emergían del mural como esculturas vivientes. Los cuerpos, pintados con un estilo más plano, creaban un diálogo visual.
I stood for a long time looking at this work. It made me feel bewildered; I don't think I fully understood it, and yet it has remained in my head like an echo.
Perhaps you can help me read the message it conveys. This mural seems to speak in a language of emotional symbols rather than linear logic, as if each figure were a piece of a dream that cannot be fully translated.
What I see is a woman holding an umbrella firmly to keep her companion from getting wet, even though she herself is getting wet.
On the other side, there is another figure who is also soaked, her face flushed. Beyond, a gaze observes—as if judging or remembering.
Perhaps the mural doesn't require interpretation, but simply to be felt, like someone who sits silently under that same umbrella and observes.
Me quedé un buen rato contemplando esta obra. Me desconcertó; creo que no la entendí del todo, y sin embargo, ha permanecido en mi cabeza como un eco.
Quizás puedas ayudarme a interpretar el mensaje que transmite. Este mural parece hablar en un lenguaje de símbolos emocionales en lugar de una lógica lineal, como si cada figura fuera un fragmento de un sueño indescifrable.
Lo que veo es una mujer que sujeta firmemente un paraguas para evitar que su acompañante se moje, aunque ella misma se esté mojando.
Al otro lado, hay otra figura también empapada, con el rostro enrojecido. Más allá, una mirada observa, como juzgando o recordando.
Quizás el mural no requiera interpretación, sino simplemente ser sentido, como alguien que se sienta en silencio bajo ese mismo paraguas y observa.
A neighbor explained to me that, a few years ago, the community decided to join forces on a community art project to beautify their surroundings. But they didn't stop at murals; they also made small sculptures using recycled materials that still adorn the street corners. A domino table, also decorated with mosaic scraps, is embedded on a mosaic of broken tiles. Lively games are held there every weekend, which have evolved into full-blown neighborhood tournaments.
Un vecino me explicó que, hace unos años, la comunidad decidió unir fuerzas en un proyecto artístico comunitario para embellecer su entorno. Pero no se conformaron con murales; también crearon pequeñas esculturas con materiales reciclados que aún adornan las esquinas. Una mesa de dominó, también decorada con retazos de mosaico, está incrustada sobre un mosaico de teselas rotas. Allí se celebran animados partidos todos los fines de semana, que se han convertido en auténticos torneos vecinales.
Further on, on another wall, art takes the form of glass bottles embedded in the cement, forming translucent stars that capture the sunlight like crystal peaks. Each corner expressed the pride of a neighborhood that has found its place through art and cooperation.
This chance encounter reaffirms my love for my city: for its inexhaustible capacity to reinvent itself and surprise me, even in the midst of a simple errand.
Más adelante, en otra pared, el arte toma la forma de botellas de vidrio incrustadas en el cemento, formando estrellas translúcidas que capturan la luz del sol como picos de cristal. Cada rincón expresaba el orgullo de un barrio que ha encontrado su lugar a través del arte y la cooperación.
Este encuentro casual reafirma mi amor por mi ciudad: por su inagotable capacidad de reinventarse y sorprenderme, incluso en medio de un simple recado.
I returned home with my phone working, happy about finding the murals, and my eyes still admiring the flamboyant trees and peaceful sea that adorn our surroundings. Sometimes all it takes is a moment to discover how much beauty surrounds us and how many stories are waiting to be told.
Greetings to everyone, and until the next daily adventure.
Regresé a casa con el teléfono funcionando, feliz de haber encontrado los murales, y con la mirada aún admirando los árboles extravagantes y el mar apacible que adornan nuestro entorno. A veces, basta con un instante para descubrir cuánta belleza nos rodea y cuántas historias esperan ser contadas.
Saludos a todos y hasta la próxima aventura.
Las fotos fueron tomadas con mi teléfono Xiaomi Note 13, unidas y recreadas en canva.
Usé Traductor DeepL
The photos were taken with my Xiaomi Note 13 phone, joined and recreated in canva.
I Used Translator DeepL
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https://www.reddit.com/r/u_lileisabel/comments/1lgl5yg/art_when_the_city_speaks_in_relief/
This post has been shared on Reddit by @lileisabel through the HivePosh initiative.
¿ᴺᵉᶜᵉˢᶦᵗᵃˢ ᴴᴮᴰ? ᵀᵉ ˡᵒ ᵖʳᵉˢᵗᵃᵐᵒˢ ᶜᵒⁿ @ruta.loans
Thanks You 👍🏾♥️
Hermosos Murales hermana @lileisabel , los murales de vidrio son muy originales, diste un lindo recorrido, feliz noche 🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🪻🏵️🪷💮🥀🌻🌺🍀
Gracias hermana @taniagonzalez , me gustó mucho encontrarme con todo ese arte, lo disfruté, que tengas un lindo descanso
Hermoso arte callejero...lo amé 🥰
!LUV
Si amiga muy bonito 😍
Wow! Very nice! It's not easy to draw an art in the wall you need to work hard to finish.
So it must be a difficult and arduous job, I admit this art 🎨
Wall arts are inspiring to see.Wall paintings are common in public high schools and public libraries here in my place. I used to join a wall painting contest back then . But, it's worth noting that walls in your city even has some decorations like glass bottles - a good way to upcycle things.
Yes, they are different techniques and I like that a lot, because it makes the city more colorful ♥️
That's awesome. Have you ever participated in such activity?
I have not had the opportunity, although I must admit that although I like to appreciate all this art, I am not given to the plastic arts, I do not have that gift or ability, although I do do many manual arts and I have participated in many exhibitions of this type 👋🏾
I see. What kind of art do you?
Nice, every pic is an art. It captivated the beauty of the surroundings. And those flowers 🌺, it's my first time to see.
It's so beautiful to see these murals. These flowering trees are very common this time of year in my country; they fill the city with color. It's very pretty.
You are very blessed that you still have your mom, How I wish I was blessed like you too. Life is hard but I wish God would give me time to be reunited with her again.
I know, having my mom around is a great blessing 🍀 that's why I take advantage of it to spend time together ♥️
Awesome I love this
It's beautiful, thank you 😍
The trees reminds me of autumn. Street arts is always catchy. More often that not, it tells a story - a story we will only understand if we take a moment to pause and see them for what they really are and not just pass them by.