The imaginary city: (ethno)graphy about urban murals in Southern Chile

Abstract

This article traces a road and reflection about the social life of the image in the city, through the study of urban murals, doing special emphasis on the interventions performed by the spectators. The urban mural is conceived as an ephemeral medium whereby the image as symbolic product can be seen, while the artist would be the signs configurator who works those signs hidden under the official history. Finally, the mural is the way by means of the city is able to live her strokes, imagine and reinvent them.