It is worth noting that this text comes out of an academic context in which other participants are recognized art theoreticians in the Colombian art world, such as the critic Jaime Cerón (b. 1967) and the academic artist Fernando Escobar (b. 1973). Given the context, the ideas of the Excusado Printsystem Collective (DeadBird, SaintCat, StinkFish and Ratsonrop, pseudonyms of its members), operating in Bogotá since 2003, have become more visible. That is how the group draws its identity from and moves in a milieu apart from that of journalism or information dissemination; this allows it to present its proposals with much greater depth, breadth, and discussion.
The collective centers its artwork on action events in outdoor public spaces in the city through graffiti, posters, stickers, and stencils (see “Excusado Pasquín Intercisternario” [doc. no. 1092473]). In addition, it offers many workshops and lectures in neighborhoods, at secondary schools, universities, and at institutional events, addressing the issue of the public space and the nature of the images in circulation. In these workshops, the group teaches children, young adults, and adults to construct their own images with which they may participate actively, stimulating alternative thinking about the use of public space. The chapter provides valuable details about this basic mission of the Excusado Printsystem collective: to generate spaces for encounters, both for images and their creators. It even proposes strategies, methods, and options for the daily movement of images in the streets of a contemporary city (such as Bogotá), suggesting an interesting model for a graphic designer, though one that has undoubtedly led to more contemplation than action.