Twenty years of books, friendship, laughter, and countless stories! 📚🥂 To celebrate two decades of our book club, we decided it was time to create a new chapter of our own. Curaçao 🇨🇼 became our destination!
Curaçao is the “C” in the ABC islands. While this beautiful Caribbean island is known for its turquoise waters and spectacular beaches, I would like to focus this post on something equally captivating: the artistry of Curaçao! 🎨
We took a walking tour through two of Willemstad’s historic neighborhoods, Punda and Otrobanda, separated by St. Anna Bay and connected by the iconic floating Queen Emma Bridge.
Otrobanda, which means “the other side” in Papiamentu, is exactly that…the other side of the harbor from Punda. Established in the early 1700s, this historic neighborhood has become one of the island’s most fascinating outdoor art galleries, where colorful murals, vibrant street art, and centuries-old architecture collide to tell the stories of Curaçao’s people and culture.
And much of that artistic transformation has a story of its own, thanks to a grassroots movement called Kaya Kaya.
Launched in 2018, Kaya Kaya (in the Papiamentu kaya means “street”) began as a community initiative to revitalize Otrobanda through art, music, culture, and neighborhood pride. Local artists and residents came together to transform walls and public spaces into vibrant expressions that represent the island and it’s people.
What makes this street art so special is the history, heritage, resilience, and creativity behind it. Every mural tells a story and the colors light up the street.
And for a group of women who have spent 20 years sharing stories through books, what better way to celebrate than exploring a place where the streets themselves tell stories. ❤️📚🎨
Note: I don’t know all the artists for these murals and continue to research online.
The meaning behind the artwork is an exploration of God, gender, and divinity. Diosa combines the Spanish translation of Goddess and the Papiamentu “I know”.
A reminder that Curaçao’s beauty isn’t limited to what we see above the water. Its underwater world is just as extraordinary and the turtles make up a big part of that world.
This mural is by Curaçao artist Sander van Beusekom. It is part of a larger composition across neighboring buildings, bringing together the contrasting worlds of breakdancing and ballet. The message: finding beauty, harmony, and possibility despite life’s struggles and differences.
This metal sculpture is by Giovanni Abath, also known as 7.1 (G is the 7th letter in the alphabet and A is the first), and was created for Kaya Kaya in 2019. Inspired by words from Bob Marley, the work encourages people to recognize and free themselves from the beliefs and limitations that hold them back. As our guide told us about this artwork, Bob Marley’s song was playing from the neighbor’s window.
A fascinating mural! Look closely at her colorful headwrap, which illustrates chapters of Curaçao’s history, from Dutch colonization and the 1795 slave uprising to the island’s flag and marine heritage. Even her gold earring is shaped like Curaçao!
