When traveling, many wish to find the picture-perfect spot. Punda, a scenic district of Willemstad, Curaçao, is known for its colorful and tropical atmosphere where locals and tourists alike can relax at an outdoor café, visit an art gallery, or shop at local boutiques. Among the cobblestone alleyways, one will encounter Dutch colonial architecture and Euro-Caribbean influences. Esteban Ferrales adds to this atmosphere with his Entre Tribunales, or “Between Courts,” a three-dimensional mural made of polychrome cement that depicts two birds, one perched on a tree and one soaring in the air.
As shoppers travel the streets of Punda, Entre Tribunales shows them what makes the local area unique.
This mural has decorated the streets of Punda since 2016, when a private client commissioned the piece, and dominates this area of the city as it spans over 16 feet in height and nearly 20 feet in width! It is eye-catching because of its dimensions and its bright, analogous yellow and green colors. All of this compliments the already vivid Punda district.
By incorporating the local flora and fauna into its urban environment, Ferrales added more beauty to the already picturesque cityscape. He depicted two Venezuelan troupials, the national bird of Venezuela that is commonly found across the Caribbean, among a woodland with cacti. By depicting them, Ferrales celebrates the local culture and landscape that shows what is unique and important to Caribbean life. His use of polychrome cement immerses the viewer within the piece through the extensive details and projection of the three-dimensional trees and birds. This adds a layer of realism to the scene that makes the viewer feel that they are more connected to the nature around them.