One of a kind. The resilient red hippopotamus is coming to life in Bogotá

As if straight from a Macondian tale, and in response to Colombia’s hippopotamus crisis, a severe ecological emergency triggered by the uncontrolled reproduction of over 180 hippopotamuses descended from those 'imported' to the country in the 1980s, a calf of this mammal has emerged in downtown Bogotá. It not only draws attention for its 3.50 meters long and 2.50 meters high, but also because of its peculiar reddish color.

Resiliencia

The 'river horse,' as hippos are also known, is Resiliencia: The Monumental Hippopotamus Sculpture by Colombian artist Camilo Acosta. The piece impresses not only for its size and weight but also for the powerful message it conveys.

Weighing nearly a ton, the artwork is crafted from annealed wire over a metal structure, accompanied by a human figure and a bird; it invites reflection on Colombia's diversity, tensions, and capacity for transformation. For the artist, the hippopotamus symbolizes the country's complexities: 'Colombia is so diverse that we even have hippopotamuses,' stated Acosta, who transforms this figure into a metaphor for resistance, memory, and change. 

The sculpture, winner of the Public Space Artwork category at the VIII Salón BAT de Arte Popular: Colombia, diversidad cultural y natural, presented by the Gilberto Alzate Avendaño Foundation (FUGA) in collaboration with the BAT Colombia Foundation, has been temporarily installed for the next two years in the Pasaje Murillo Toro in the city's historic center, specifically on Calle 12A between Carreras 7 and 8.

Before arriving at its new home, Resiliencia was on display in the outdoor garden of the National Museum of Colombia, where it quickly became a major attraction for tourists, families, and art lovers. 

The artwork seeks to strengthen the cultural appropriation of public spaces and consolidate downtown Bogotá as a living stage for contemporary art and urban experiences. 

The arrival of Resiliencia adds to the capital’s growing cultural offerings, reaffirming Bogotá as a city where art transforms the streets into places for gathering, reflection, and cultural tourism.

Popular art in Bogotá

The VIII Salón BAT de Arte Popular, organized by the BAT Colombia Foundation, has solidified its position as one of the country’s leading platforms for recognizing folk and self-taught artists. It promotes the circulation of popular art across museums and territories, while driving the conversation on how art transforms and impacts public spaces throughout the nation. 

For more information about tourism in our city, stay here at www.visitbogota.co. And don't forget to download the free ‘Visit Bogotá’ app on your smartphone.