Daniela Pérez Barrera

Daniela Pérez Barrera is a graphic artist from Sogamoso who specializes in linocut, along with other techniques such as xylography, stencil, and serigraphy. Her pseudonym is "Agonia," through which she expresses herself as being the voice of the walls, communicating and showcasing a public art technique that is slowly being forgotten. When walking around Sogamoso, it is impossible not to become acquainted with her work.

Her artistic journey began in 2019, following collaborations with various artists in Cali, Colombia. In recent years, she has received several awards and has actively participated in various art festivals, enabling her to further develop her craft. Despite having limited studio space, the most valuable thing for her is being able to establish her own engraving workshop equipped with all the necessary materials. Like many street artists, her work has faced censorship and has even been torn down, highlighting the enduring challenge of recognizing the value of street art.

In December 2022, Daniela began a collaboration with the Vida, Memoria y Dignidad collective, and the families affected by the La Sarna Massacre, a tragic event that occurred over 20 years ago in the rural area between Sogamoso and Aquantia, Boyaca. On December 1, 2001, a bus departed from the Sogamoso transport terminal and was intercepted by paramilitaries. Under the orders of armed men, the bus was forced to come to a halt, and all passengers were instructed to disembark. They were then accused of being accomplices to the insurgency, and 15 innocent people were murdered. Engaging in this project has proved to be one of Daniela's most challenging undertakings, both as an artist and as a human being. She participated in writing workshops alongside the grieving relatives, where they shared their testimonies and narratives. The graphic descriptions conveyed by the victims' families resonated vividly, expressed in painstaking detail, and evoked profound feelings of frustration and helplessness in the pursuit of justice.

“When we carve their faces or scenes from the events that transpired, we find the strength to persevere with this profoundly beautiful project, allowing families to heal, confront their fears, and persist in their pursuit of the long-awaited justice that has been denied for so many years.”