The fourth edition of Ibanasca, the Urban Art Festival for Women (Festival de Arte Urbano de Mujeres), took place from October 10 to 14, 2024, in Honda, Tolima. Organized by Ibanasca Transforma, the event highlighted female talent in public spaces under the theme “Women and Knowledge“. We from Viva Futura participated in the entrepreneurship section, connecting with the community and showcasing the beautiful feminist products we create at La Futura Shop.

Day 1: Exploration and Inspiration in Honda

After arriving and dropping off our bags, we explored Honda with the Ibanasca team. We loved exploring this charming town. We visited the Teatro Unión and the old train station, a revitalized space for festival initiatives.

The event combines art with the recovery of abandoned places, inviting the community to occupy and renovate these spaces, revitalizing the city with a collective and transformative spirit.

Day 2: First Contact with the Public

The second day began with the setup of our stand and the interactive board “Place a Sticker”. We invited the public to indicate whether they had experienced an abortion, creating a visual tool that highlighted the shared reality of abortion.

While the billboard successfully captured attention, effectively engaging individuals remained a challenge due to the enduring stigma associated with abortion. At the end of the day, a touching moment unfolded when an elderly woman approached us to express her gratitude for our efforts and share her personal story. This was as a powerful reaffirmation of our mission to reshape the discourse on abortion, focusing on data-driven narratives that are free from stigma.

Day 3: Workshops, Murals, and the Message from AbortionData

The third day began with the “Let’s Talk About Abortion” workshop by Women First Digital, where we explored how to approach the topic through hopeful communication. It was a creative space where participants created collages, poems, and paste-ups as tools for expression.

The day continued with a tour of the murals of the festival, each reflecting the talent and strength of feminist art. We spoke with Pri Barbosa, a muralist from São Paulo, Brazil, who created a mural titled “Las abuelas también lo hicieron” (engl. Grandmothers Did It Too). Her work highlighted the intergenerational connection in the feminist struggle and the fight for safe abortion.

AbortionData also made an impact with a striking poster: “Siempre hemos abortado y no lo hemos hecho solas” (engl. We have always had abortions, and we haven’t done it alone). This powerful message, now visible in the streets of Honda, emphasizes the value of sisterhood and shared experiences surrounding abortion, reinforcing the importance of community in these processes.

On this day, we decided to place our stand next to that of Women First Digital, which resulted in much more active interaction with the public on topics such as abortion, reproductive rights, and sexual health.

Art transforms

At the end of the festival, we collected our “Place a Sticker” board, which had the participation of thirteen people: nine indicated that they had aborted and four that they had not. We are deeply grateful to those who participated for their bravery and openness.

The Ibanasca Festival was a reminder of the transformative power of art and community to change narratives, challenge stigmas, and strengthen dialogue around reproductive rights, particularly abortion. We returned with lessons learned, inspiration, and a renewed conviction to continue advancing our mission.