Catalan village fills with art and spectators celebrating 10th mural festival 

On Sunday, May 4, the streets of Penelles (a village in western Catalonia) were once again filled with thousands of tourists eager to enjoy live mural art at the Gargar Festival of Murals and Rural Art.  

The festival celebrated its tenth anniversary and is one of the unmissable events on western Catalonia's cultural calendar. "The festival has revitalized the town and added value. If Penelles is on the map, it's thanks to the street art," mayor Eloi Bergós told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).  

More than 170 murals have been created over a time span of ten years. Some have been repainted over time due to weathering.  

Even a decade after the birth of the Gargar festival, creativity and mural art continue to transform Penelles' streets. "The assessment is more than positive. Together, we've organized a cultural and tourist project. We're proud of what we've created," said Bergós.  

The mayor envisions a long future for the festival. "We're committed to continuing as a hub for this art form and making it a distinctive feature of our town," he added.  

A word with the artists 

One of the artists that is taking part in the festival is Estitxu Julián, from Pango i CO. He emphasized that the public is "increasingly invested in mural art." 

"It generates a lot of tourism, and people ask about your work to understand it," she explained. This is Julián’s second time participating in Gargar alongside her partner, Ivan Egea. "It’s a showcase for us to present our work and our art," she said. 

Barcelona-based artist Eslicer also took part in the festival. This time he participated solo, after having created murals with other artists in the second and third editions. Eslicer is currently working on a large-scale mural depicting the goddess Artemis.  

Another artist, Luisa Estrada, is participating for the first time. The Mexican Tàrrega-based artist is creating a work based on native birds, featuring the Ganga, the festival's symbolic bird.  

Nature and landscape are her primary sources of inspiration, and living in a rural environment has helped her expand her artistic practice. "Since being here, I’ve started working on things I never would have done in Mexico," she explained. 

This year, the town will reach the milestone of 170 murals, although some have been repainted. "The artists know they’re creating ephemeral art, and the weather causes the murals to degrade. So we invite the artist to either restore the faded mural or replace it," said the mayor.