French street artist James Colomina’s art piece, which demanded an end to the bloodshed in Gaza and peace between Israelis and Palestinians, appeared on Barcelona’s Ramblas Boulevard on Thursday.
Under the title “The Children of Peace,” it showcases statues of two youngsters holding hands, one donning a Jewish kippah and the other a Palestinian keffiyeh as a headgear. All of the figures are painted in Colomina’s signature brilliant red color. They are standing in front of a white canvas with crimson handprints creating a heart shape that contains the peace symbol.
“This is a request for harmony between the two ethnic groups,” retired Renee Sanchez, 67, remarked as she passed by. That is our shared desire. Let people live their lives and put a lot of hatred in the past.” Colomina told Reuters that he choose Barcelona because it is a “city where street art shines out to the world” despite not being present at the location.
After four hours or so, the exhibit was taken down by construction workers. Red statues by Colomina depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin riding a toy tank have been seen in playgrounds in parks all over the world, including Central Park in New York City, Regent’s Park in London, and the Villa Borghese gardens in Rome.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.