Time and time again, it is proven that beauty and art can flourish despite any condition. In our continuing series of highlighting artists from around the world, today we talk with a Chilean born artist Luna Zuniga (aka Bella Luna). Bella Luna is such an inspirational artist, that we couldn’t help but fall in love with her beautiful and diverse art.
How did you get into street art?
I’m Chilean and Chile is an art lover’s paradise. Valparaiso, a port city in Chile is known as one of the best street art cities in the world, where every possible open space imaginable is covered in paint. There are no walls left untouched or staircases without color.
Why is street art important?
Street art has always had a history of being influenced by the present political and social issues. Because art is a universal language, it’s easy to see why many artists prefer this medium to challenge the status quo.
What is your favorite piece & why?
It’s hard for me to choose just one because every mural is different. I love them all and with every wall I get to leave a little piece of myself. They are equally important to me and unique. They have a story and connections I’ve made that I wont easily forget.
Who is your favorite street artist & why?
This is my all time favorite mural by my favorite artist, Chilean street artist INTI . This mural is in Germany located at the YAAM Berlin Art Market.
We love INTI too, in Montreal at Mural Festival we were treated to a great mural.
Street Art by INTI
Where would you like to create art next?
I create artistic dream rooms for youth who don’t have access to the arts, the vulnerable, marginalized, recently diagnosed with a serious illness and struggling with trauma. I started my own charitable organization when I noticed a gap on how we treat children with acute and unrecognized trauma. I want to go where I am most needed. Where there isn’t a hint of art and start there. My province , where I reside permanently has the highest rate of apprehensions in our nation and there are as many group homes as there are traffic signs. They pretty much all look the same.
They are sterile and void of color and feel nothing like a home. Five years ago I began to quietly and prolifically create artistic rooms in group homes across my city. Most of them were created by employing guerrilla tactics meaning the idea had been rejected and the managers in these homes brought me in through the back door and very often risking their own employment because they believed as I do that these kids deserved more. Sometimes my murals are covering every wall in these group homes. The goal is to transform how we look at group homes and children in care. Make them look more reflective of a home, not an institution
Share a project you are working on or one you have that you would like to promote.
I’m currently working on a few projects and a couple of homes. I don’t think I could ever go more a few days with creating something. Read about The Dream Room Project
A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO OUR GUEST WRITER BELLA LUNA CHECK OUT HER BIO BELOW!
Amazing work, Luna!
Inspiring commitment by an artist to make an impact on vulnerable and marginalized youth. May the Dream Room kids find inspiration and hope in the murals that Luna paints for them. Many future successes!
We agree completely, thanks for commenting!
I have two of her pieces, and working on acquiring more. Thing is each piece I have of Luna’s is completely different from the other. The only thing that is common in her work are the colours, very striking. I keep going back to each piece seeing something different everytime. Looking forward to some abstract art I have my eyes on…let’s talk! 😉
She is a beautiful person and her art work definitely expresses that!