Entrepreneurial Minds stops in Colombia with its eleventh episode, where we speak with Seta Fuerte an incredible muralist and graffiti artist, has been an integral part of the art transformation scene. He shares with us all about the changing graffiti scene and transforming art into a business. Join us for conversations about choosing your journey, creativity, and sharing stories from around the world.
Entrepreneurial Minds stops in Colombia with its eleventh episode, where we speak with Seta Fuerte an incredible muralist and graffiti artist, has been an integral part of the art transformation scene. He shares with us all about the changing graffiti scene and transforming art into a business. Join us for conversations about choosing your journey, creativity, and sharing stories from around the world.
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welcome to entrepreneurial mines. I'm Valerie Donahue and on this podcast will travel around the world to learn everything that we can about individuals, which was too greedy. Businesses from scratch. We'll dive into what drives them, what stops them and wouldn't buy or sell in order to identify. Are there common factors that unite us as entrepreneurs across continents? Here's your next episode. Medici in Colombia, With set up with an incredible muralists and graffiti artist, Seta has been an integral part of the art transformation scene here in Colombia. He's been a graffiti artist for 18 years and has over 1000 pieces worldwide, dozens of them being murals over 100 square meters in size. His work is colorful and and depicts many hyper local elements of the culture here in Colombia. And we also have with us Julian. Anyway, he will be translating for us. Yes,
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it's Thomas and made in Colombia. Who more Elise think clearly here. The style of this said, I's not returning the ground as a party. Former soon I can't Colombia. A last year off Artie style of this poor man's day is your choice. Onions, it animals. They mean p s as much as they just spinning. Must they seen Metro Squad House? A super. Well, hello to you. It didn't really mean to. Colombia
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said that. Thank you so much for being here to get started and to give a little bit of a background for our listeners. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your life? Growing up,
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he went this way. Have basic I look up in in this town and I start to paint the street because, like Like it's a free area on dhe. Nobody have the nobody coming forward like to go to museums. A graffitti, eh? Xy xy they take very moving movement. They saw needs, like some techniques in unclean lips. Gave that contemporary art doesn't axes and you start to travel all over the continent and pain in many places In a moment that nobody went around around places on, nobody knows. Like graffiti artist. Yeah, Brandy is a grand is my They continue. I learned from very good teachers around the continent and they teach me a lot of things in this was the area had a break. After travelling for four years, I came back to Colombia and I can't imagine e m managing Mr. Listen, Andi, I have my my resident in communal 13 and look, I wanna raise it in your personal story. The conflict is politico's come you know 13 have ah no story about this conflict with political stuff and and more stuff emotional. He put on our hip hop culture influences in So I made a ll the hip hop artist in the community and I start to relate with them on toes and we all start to paint like a graffiti murals. But in the hip hop coach recording studio, after we bang, everything will start to make some tourism. It's so sad, I'm gratis. But the beginning were free, I think because people got scared to get to this community. Oh yes, a master logistical. Imagine if Desi re elected me to This does mean stories. But today managers go there. They have like 33,000 people that go every month. He can also cruise aim generals and best out leaving graces Economy cause disasters project. So that became very important for the young people young kids on. Then they start to make some money with all these projects. So a little bit off economy a project that piece temples in separate palace. And I believe that that our artistic products have to be like how you say Tom is like rentable, so it cannot be more are in the future in our tango. Someday we may be here, you know I got a gallery. Mullah Premera led to the watch like the first European gallery in the home Allergy in a look atyou, a little Lydia is him in the cool Seuss. But the main thing off these galleries to make a little bit of money for old are dishing the CD. Let the lady accord on more picking your person Big fishing trip propulsion A feast for the church selling beer over, over like 20% off these along these money on. Then they get on so well to them to continue the ark Remember me? Me, me, me trabajo prop You disprove those propio scares me so I can sell my old approach and then I can make a profit for myself. It's when you escape Lady Pacer projectors grand. Is this you? In my dream is that the gallery expand store community nor only community 13 to spank around community in the home energy. That's my dream.
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The galleries is a new concept
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isn't welcome.
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Before you opened up this gallery did artists
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I'm headed toward the area commonly
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managed to sell their art
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a B mother in all the artist mural artists, they live pain, pain. These murals, they eh LaScala areas convince you list No swelling next DVD. Regular galleries. They don't They don't. They post the European artists work in. It does. It does have This doesn't turbinals No swelling. That's I don't know the ending. So you're an artist. They don't They don't. I don't have to say oh is not pieces Our Lady of State now regularly accepts in picking us. So now they start warning is more peace to show And so let me steal. So they working in their own techniques. E dinner dress causes Andi. They spent all the time Josie the Are they off to work in the north? Things before the gorilla off human Our kids were teachers. Any decent is the police designers a e a follicle coming saved us or us because they used to make teacher to survive hats and every everything like this. C a a Now everybody made at now Everybody makes their own pieces on the consulate in the gallery.
spk_0: 9:50
So that's incredible. You are starting something that will allow graffiti artists to be able to do their craft full time. How did you go about creating this art gallery?
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Come on, That's a star lady because I needed to know they're in the last courses he did. I didn't have any space to show my store for that. I create my gallery. Now people see that that these galleries working. So now there's they start to open some more galleries. Yes, when a little on this is good for everyone. Like, make a little ecosystem around that graffiti stuff.
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Is it a physical and an online space?
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Then it's physical units buzzing away All he needs. The room you started a
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see what has been the rule of instagram in the business for graffiti artists mask in
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more than businesses opportunities a media, eh In business was conflict very concerned book in from the master. Before we're flicker on Facebook, they show that our bond with this picture that they shone fixed gun and flicker some graffiti are starting to go to other cities. You get better asking Mr A. People that don't come to our neighborhood they see our stuffing in Facebook or flicker or now, instead, on they they invite us to go to their CDs to make some art. You know, sperm meets egg trough. Siento the vistas and ray are the moon does Who's standing? Justin Dancy SCLC years. So we are now like getting priority these techniques and good level two steps that place that going growing like professionals. Now,
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how has the art scene changed in Meta Gene and in Colombia over the last few years?
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Come on. Come vo Graffiti, A comedian and those with the most news A country with your press they come. Come on, come on. They really a like back in the days there, there was a legal group in the ceiling. Andi, this group leading dealing allow the graffiti artist to pain because so they were like a scared to pain because off these illegal room, my focus in on a little bit off them keep keep back in the days they still being paid the charge and how I e a years ago, like new graffiti artist start to get again the streets and then allow school graffiti. Then came, but they came back again and a mating Is Morpheus busy? Our pork? Imagine no choke on travel graffiti. Nadine is a special city because it is my genius. It was not like before they were against. Refuted by now mating. Working over these people's seemed like him managing people humanity jeweler. They they given a lycan eyes heart for all the revealing art. Same breaks you go, you know, imagine and come in on the mayor's office also helped them a lot imposes grafitti. Imagine and you made rose a lot because everybody is, you know, like in other shooting that is always a confrontation with the government and with all the people because yes, you know me and time. But consider this is a very important to to have peace on. I'm I'm everybody's happy.
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How has the government been supporting graffiti?
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A. I move a lot of revealing eyes. Eyes the region off graffiti zing old Over In South America, there was many refugees with that one moment in, you know, we're like fighting against the government. One day they kill a graffiti artists, police, right buddies, because his name was what? They wouldn't go very young. I was he sentenced to 15 years? 15 years old? Yes. So bad is me with my friends. His father is a friend off and in this moment ago. You know, after this there, the government see it on the table with all the graffiti artist. Okay. Is he talking in a Bush won? Because these are the kill of this person. Waas generates a lot of bundles in days a year. But so after raising the table, the government's a Okay, we're gonna We're gonna give you some some money. So they were gonna work together, then Don't system then. In all cities in Colombia, they're making being mules. See, our most a soda Managing went being to let's say right now, may gene off paint factory, support them poor paintings in the whole ceiling the whole year in fasting. But I have to be like our social company in these murals or or these refugees escape. Let's say, a 9% off graffiti artist. Columbia, coming in second year associate since was Barry's. They are socio legal in their neighborhoods.
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I think that that's so interesting. And to me, that sounds very unique to whether I don't know of any other cities in the world. They're like this. Are there any other places?
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Is road is growing is growing
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where the government steps in?
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Yes, but I didn't win. Put that Taking over here knows your thesis coming.
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I don't want to take away from the fact that he's doing a good job, but still he they are our creative people, understanding that the government is funding a lot of this.
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Yes, the game could go here. Only stop but eyes
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there any from a creative part of you is there? Is there anything limiting I really need with the government sponsored
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No, Get up and I want to clear something up. You can go your own artist as Victoria's Those those trees basis in Milan battling almost in It was a process they last year on the Maginot. Colombia's an impediment. Independiente, like the government, open open some space wand for them, but there were real stuff. Is the graffiti artists A lot. A lot of them are independent, says makes like like a contest like 34 contest during the year, and he never wanted one of these one of these things. So he is in the pen. See, I just because a guy, a government, like some some issues that you like, you're gonna make our with them. Then you don't know you can look like any political star for see, let me see stars so that Moscow is a consecutive materia parasitic mortals. But they let the let them that the young artists get some materials to make all these murals
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with the introduction of your art gallery. Do you think that it will also change the themes and the kind of art that you are that you are creating because now you can make pieces that are independent off? Well, I know that you are making independent pieces, but other artists who were dependent on making murals, you know, for the government that they could create independent pieces with their own themes.
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A toe keep was a hole in his, depending on the man beginning because he stayed in the gallery off the the other, saving for, like, three era on ecosystem and don't says K and the killer being being told us is the killer. The man Jean say so. The store refuting store the gallery belong Store graffiti guy. See? Okay, Stan, before the clothing that they make over there is going to be with for a north Philly or less plot for Mass Electron where I know you told everybody. Get a Yes Eka little toe. Hey, Ken anymore not read this. So we want to make, like a big, big, big connection between everyone. Graffiti artist. So everybody have their own part for us, is not bury his mother. The artists have like everyone of us. No calorie. Okay, Car He starting down there goes You are almost a porter. Really does that every artist off like a small business. But then they get all together and they can put everything in one spot so we can keep these like, only dependent with no government. And I know our private factories
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with the introduction of the art galleries. Do you think it will change? The type of art artists are creating
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so is is getting better. Pakistan told Temple America sees European tax is not always the same thing all the time. So like before they were, they have to work and paying Justin a s'more time you get now they spend all the time just for pain. For money on they develop some probes on They are there they are glad toe found a new new fact Appraisals? Yes.
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How do new graffiti Young new graffiti artist How do they enter this world? How do they start signing street? Are there any regulations? Thio
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thing still illegal in the city meals ready to meet your gallery or my gallery to win us A of the penal finance they don't find very nice are they? Don't got graffiti but you're gonna find graffiti are perky Graffiti is so that is so simple because Rafael is only in this stream on without permission like you Legal painting thing is gonna be always illegal.
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How did you How did you create your personal creative style
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When the car when I stopped looking for money is the best way they contracted? Missed Edo is no follow my style. No, no limit is no leads. Yes, Go on, make a lot of stuff until you get your own technique in English or your own language.
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How did your style change from when you started 18 years ago? to now, can you? When you look at it, can you say Wow, it's the same guy. Looks like
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they can those orders when I find them When in the computer Sometimes I laughed. He is being changing a lot is going is a big change in love. But I'm still not there. I have to go forward.
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Where? There any specific moments in your career
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moment was puzzling. Corretja.
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Where that we're defining for creating your currents.
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Okay, if it was your moment, see anything? Most losing Gwen Andrews gonna piece desk a case musket. No tradition, Larry. Like when I met some other things that they have like many years in this in this are our business. So they teach me a lot on that. Change your way a bit early. He and Charles Carmi systematic us in Paris on they defies rescue. Get away. Like like about these New York style graffiti. New York style on. Then it started to look for my own technique and my own in like for the people, the town from people from the town. Yeah, and pork and nothing. Demon is very important in Argentina, Dina. And next year I have a match. A better be in Armenia ridge and I lose My my, my right. Right, right, right, right hand my hand. Yes. There was a hand that I was painting So from a years ago I started playing with the left hand job. Now my right hand is getting better And now I can pay my campaign with both hands. So it's good because you learn for cane Then they came because Because I understand that there is nothing nails that better that I love more than trophies.
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How did you teach yourself to your left
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hand eyes? Wait, What? I was very sad. I mean, I was off the press. I can ask. Yeah, am I took a paint can with the left with the left hand hand in this excuse I started to write on the wall in the port is best Then I continued to do three months with the left hand's. I would believe him. A small office more Sirica lt's squares. I think you guys are all the technique was in my mind, so I only have to pitch my hand. It's a mess in this place. After six months in pieces, I was painting a mural off off four floors with my left hand way with my left hand. Why was is your year that was like the beginning off, Off, off. What what I'm doing right now that changed my life.
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You are blowing my mind says. I thought that for an artist's your your your dominant hand, I didn't think it's possible, Thio. And because it's muscle memory from your whole life making art with your right hand. That says a lot about how much is in your mind versus how much is in your body. That's shocking.
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Is Mia okay? I changed my life because before, on this M, let's say I was very fork. Use any legs. Ito, like the own fame, use and like to be with very things e a success. And then I understand. But it is more important. There's more things more important than that fame, use and success because more communal me nice. I saw that how it changed my life. I can change somebody's lives a There he starts here personas this implement that ST Quentin from Artie's on just regular people that they like What, what, what what we think?
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Well, it's incredible. That's no, that's amazing. Have you Have you thought about experimenting with any other mediums I see here in the meadow, Jean? I know in New York a lot of the artists they use wheat paste. I haven't noticed that here. Are there any other materials that graffiti artists are discussing? Potentially useful
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way use all over Speaker. She has in years a screen screen. He would love a Lady Leo well together. I want to make sure, like, really are with all those creepy really want color because that's getting all sounds, things that we're leaving use before they like gravity Arc is only used pain casts on dhe. That's it. Markers, markers. But now, now they are using more materials. Yeah, you're changing. Quest is very hard for me to think that they can use this pain. Various more is very hard.
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Do you have any advice for maybe not young, but also older? Anyone who wants to use, you know, to enter the griffin. Where do you start? There's no
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school. Can you point the zones A joke? Okay, came Whatever they whatever they do, no matter. Whatever they do a story because a skipper make things that for them are very important UK, No same province. Cuz I never give up a working because no matter what you do, see as his look a table with if you do whatever you like it in a disciplined And if you have a this club is gonna be good for sure.
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What would you like to see? The meta gene in Colombia in the graffiti scene in the future
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in Made in Colombia that he wants. He wants toe pain. The legal legal made major Met managing Metro. He wants to be imagined me to like like a piece of art on wheels. That would be cool. This is a family. But do you think it's possible? Excuse. They oppose you. See? I think Yes, you
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are their conversations that are happening now between the government and the artists for that potential
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thieves. That's coming from the eyes. Is this when you know better? Look, I know what I'm doing right now with you guys were here. Simplemente Coretta. Rumor is just tow. Make the room wars. Go. Go around that brand new dodge. It s no use, correct. One day is gonna get to the to the years that that we need that will
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make it to make it happen. That would be very, very cool. That would be That would be really interesting. Amazing. Thank you so much. Thank you. Was it was so cool to learn from you. Especially being here with Gene in the heart of art on to be here with you and to learn about your story, um, about and about the culture off a graffiti here has interesting
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way We will become Thank you for listening to this episode of entrepreneurial minds by chatterbox our dedicated and on demand virtual executive assistant team specializes in supporting entrepreneurs and business owners with pretty much any admin task. Go to chatter boss dot com to learn more.