Keep Walking Colombia - 6 000 Colombians Unite in Nudity & Make Stand for Peace

USPA NEWS - New film from Bogotá's Museum of Modern Art and Johnnie Walker tells the human stories of progress and hope from the front line of the Colombian civil war 'Right wing or left wing, nude we are equal,' says Wilson Barreto....

New film from Bogotá's Museum of Modern Art and Johnnie Walker tells the human stories of progress and hope from the front line of the Colombian civil war 'Right wing or left wing, nude we are equal,' says Wilson Barreto. Wilson was blinded by a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) bomb attack in Bogotá when he was just 19. He is one of more than 6,000 people from all sides of the Colombian civil war who posed nude at Bolívar Square, Bogotá, to make a stand for peace in a unifying art installation by renowned American photographer Spencer Tunick.

Released to coincide with Colombian Independence Day (July 20) (a day that marks Colombia's Declaration of Independence from Spain) 'Keep Walking Colombia" charts the stories of five Colombians as they take part in the creation of the art installation and iconic photograph. In the film, Wilson stands with Luis, the FARC commander responsible for the bomb attack that cost him his sight - a man he now considers a very good friend. Wilson features in the powerful short film alongside civilian victim Pilar Navarrete, ex-army officer Pablo Emilio Moncayo, ex-right wing paramilitary activist Ederlidia Garizao and Maria Esperanza Sierra, a former FARC combatant.

Pilar Navarrete's husband disappeared during the siege at the Palace of Justice in Bogotá in 1985 and his body was never found. Pilar said of her participation in the nude photograph and documentary: 'I feel like I'm paying homage. I'm going to bare my soul and my body and tell everyone about Hector Jaime Beltrán...I'm very proud of the Colombian people. We've experienced a lot of pain but we are still smiling. We want and aim to be a country that includes everybody.'

Pablo Moncayo, who was held captive by FARC for 12 years, said: 'We are all equal. Whatever differences you may see, we all have blood in our veins; we are all made of skin and bones.'

Source : Johnnie Walker - New film from Bogotá's Museum of Modern Art and Johnnie Walker
Photo cover :
(L) Wilson Barreto and Luis, the FARC bomber responsible for the attack on Wilson that cost him his sight but who is now one of his best friends
(R) Pilar Navarrete, Wilson Barreto, Ederlidia Garizao, Maria Esperanza Sierra and Pablo Emilio Moncayo.

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