01poster 01 / 08
opening poster
on a white and green wall, next to an open door
rec · golondrinas · comuna 8 · 2024-202500:00:00:00
01
el parchecito de medellín
In Medellín, a ‘parche’ is the spot where you meet up, the gang you hang out with. The parchecito is the little corner that belongs to the children of Golondrinas: their streets, their steps, their football pitch, their neighbours.
01
the neighbourhood
collective text by the children of Golondrinas
Our neighbourhood is called Golondrinas. In the neighbourhood there’s a football pitch, parks and, among them, the eco-park, which is really beautiful! You can also find shops, supermarkets, houses and flats. But there’s pollution and it’s dirty. In the neighbourhood we like the pitch, the stream and the eco-park. We don’t like the neighbourhood being dirty and polluted. If we could change one thing about the neighbourhood, it would be for it to be clean and for the mountain not to burn.
original text
Nuestro barrio se llama Golondrinas. En el barrio hay una cancha, parques y dentro de estos el ecoparque, ¡que es muy lindo! Se puede también encontrar tiendas, supermercados, casas y apartamentos. Pero hay contaminación y está sucio. En el barrio nos gusta la cancha, la cañada y el ecoparque. No nos gusta que el barrio sea sucio y que haya contaminación. Si pudiéramos cambiar algo del barrio, sería que sea limpio y que la montaña no se queme.
Golondrinas is an area in the upper part of Llanaditas, in comuna 8 (Villa Hermosa), where the city ends and the mountain begins: above it, the eco-park and the Jardín Circunvalar green belt; below, the whole city. You reach it by climbing steps. The junta (the community hall of the Junta de Acción Comunal) hosts celebrations, meetings and activities for Colombian and Venezuelan children.
02
the workshop
During the residency, the children learnt to frame a shot, walked the alleyways camera in hand, drew a subjective map of Golondrinas (the cancha, the tienda, the junta, the bus) and recorded the neighbourhood’s elders. Each photograph was then chosen, titled and put into words by its author.
golondrinas · 2024
the subjective map of golondrinas, drawn by the children
03
the images
Thirty-seven images in four rooms: the neighbourhood where they were born, daytime, portraits, night. Twenty of them carry a title and a text written by the children; the titles stay in their original language, the texts are translated.
exhibition plan
01room6 images
my neighbourhood, where i was born
My neighbourhood, where I was born, is a really lovely neighbourhood because my whole family was born there. Thanks to this neighbourhood, I learnt lots of things, like doing sport, meeting people, studying, sleeping, eating and resting. In a word: life. I want to show these photos because that’s where my people live.
original text
Mi barrio donde yo nací es un barrio muy lindo porque ahí nació toda mi familia. Gracias a este barrio aprendí muchas cosas, como hacer deporte, conocer a gente, estudiar, dormir, comer y descansar. En una palabra: la vida. Quiero mostrar estas fotos porque ahí vive mi gente.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
02room12 images
daytime
In colour, in daylight: the bus, the junta, family, the neighbours, the mountain above the city.
medellín mi vida
medellín my lifeMedellín is my favourite place and I’d like us to stop throwing rubbish in our neighbourhood. I like the photo because we can see my world and the view.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
cuando luciana estaba brava
when luciana was crossIn this photo you can see me, I’m Luciana. I like playing tag, eating and sleeping. I chose this photo because it’s me.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
mi papá chateando
my dad textingIn this photo you can see my dad. He really likes texting. I like this photo.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
naturaleza
natureI like nature, the woods, the flowers and everything there is in nature. Where you breathe in life, watch your words, because the wind is sensitive. Words are no use for explaining a secret meaning.
el bus
the busOur public transport, the Cootransmallat route.
donde hay familia hay amistad
where there’s family, there’s friendshipEven if you’re not blood family with a friend, you can be a brother to them.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
la junta
the community hallHere at the junta, we hold events and see each other. There are activities for Colombians and Venezuelans.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
las ropas
the clothesDon’t you ever lose your clothes in your own house? I faded a bit, but I’ll be myself again. Humility: everything that goes up always comes down.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
doña aura
A real fighter of a woman, and a great entrepreneur. Dora, and a fighter.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
la piel
skinI like this photo because it shows our black skin. His name is Jeffrey. The photo was taken in the park. He plays a lot with my cousin and I love him a lot.
mis niños
my kidsYoung people, kids and teenagers. Every moment captures a memory. The more quietly you do your stuff, the better it turns out. 100. If I get into trouble, it’s because I’d do anything for my people <3
mi barrio
my neighbourhoodfilm photograph · Golondrinas, 202403room6 images
portraits
Six portraits taken during the residency, in the streets of Golondrinas.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
04room13 images
night
Night, on black-and-white film: the barber's, the tienda, the fenced pitch, the matches under the street lamps.
barbería jeisson
jeisson’s barbershopBlessed and made to prosper by our Lord Jesus.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
la tienda del mono
mono’s shopMono’s shop: this is where I eat and run errands.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
alfredo económico
alfredo’s cheap eatsFried delights.
parque infantil
the playgroundHumble, simple but welcoming.
los buenos somos más
there are more of us good peopleEmmanuel is a boy who is sure that God is with us. A 12-year-old boy with his future set on the eternal. I chose this photo because his surroundings are not promising; even so, his gaze is full of hope. And his body language speaks of someone who perseveres.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
cancha favorita
favourite pitchThat’s the pitch where I learnt to play football with my friends, like Forlan or my brothers, and the whole neighbourhood plays there. Through sport, we’re family there. Football brings us together. I like this photo because I always play there.
film photograph · Golondrinas, 2024
amistad
friendshipFriendship is the most beautiful thing in life, and I’ll take good care of it along my way.
el juego
the gameSomething deep inside a person lets them grab hold of success and keep going, trying to win again.
04
the voices
The children recorded the voices of the neighbourhood: elders sitting looking out over the valley, neighbours, themselves. These recordings could be heard at the exhibition by scanning a QR code.
05
the exhibition
chapter 1 · 2024: the posters on the houses
The first exhibition was pasted onto the house fronts of Golondrinas: the posters carry the children’s photographs, titles and texts, at eye level for passers-by.
the exhibition, wall by wall
03poster 03 / 08
04poster 04 / 08
cuando luciana estaba brava · medellín mi vida · mi papá chateando · naturaleza
on a turquoise wall, at the edge of the steps
05poster 05 / 08
el bus · donde hay familia hay amistad · la junta · las ropas
on a white and green house front, near a wrought-iron door
Pasting day: the children put up their own pictures on the walls of Golondrinas.
chapter 2 · 2025: el parchecito de medellín 2
A year later, back in Golondrinas. This time, the children photographed the neighbourhood’s well-known faces (don Gabriel, doña Carolina, Dorlan, el Forlan) and wrote about them. Seven 80 × 120 cm portraits were pasted onto the houses, for everyone to see.
2025golondrinas7 images
seven portraits, seven house fronts
don gabriel
One of the oldest characters in the neighbourhood. He is a very kind, respectful person, much loved by the community. He has been my friend for 40 years.
80 × 120 cm portrait pasted on a house front · Golondrinas, 2025
doña carolina
She is a well-known figure in the Las Golondrinas neighbourhood for her kindness and goodness. She is very dear to her family, especially her daughters, and I love her deeply.
80 × 120 cm portrait pasted on a house front · Golondrinas, 2025
dorlan
He is a genuine person. A treasure of a friend. He has a good sense of humour and is very kind. All this has made him loved by many. His ability to make others laugh and his generous heart make him a very special person, appreciated by everyone who knows him.
el forlan
Forlan is one of a kind, and fun. Even though he can get cross easily and go as red as a beetroot, he also has a funny, playful side that makes everyone love him. His personality is authentic and genuine and, even though he can be a bit of a pain sometimes, he is someone people love and accept just as he is.
80 × 120 cm portrait pasted on a house front · Golondrinas, 2025
la cancha
the pitchThe pitch is a place people use a lot, because it’s somewhere to de-stress or to hang out together at weekends or every now and then.
80 × 120 cm portrait pasted on a house front · Golondrinas, 2025
80 × 120 cm portrait pasted on a house front · Golondrinas, 2025
06
the archive
the authors
Alexander, Angers, Carrenys, Carolina, Forlan, Gabriel, Gabriel, Jason, Luciana, Luiscarlis, Miguel, Miguel Angel, Monsalve, Salome, Sharon, Steven, Theylis, Thïrik
First names are given as they appear on the exhibition posters.
the partners
with the JAC Golondrinas, the Centro de Desarrollo Social Los Mangos and Movimiento Urbano
credits
Photographs and videos: the children and young people of the four neighbourhoods and the mOst team.