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| Mural across from Casa Sirena Hotel |
Barbara describes herself as a nomad, a self-taught
painter, a tattoo artist, and a muralist.
Her creations on Isla Mujeres are all vastly
different and stunningly beautiful pieces of art, many containing a message
from the artist to the viewer.
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| Photo provided by Barbara Siebenlist |
One painting is splashed across the white,
curved building that overlooks the malécon, across the street from Casa Sirena Hotel.
It is an eye-catching collage of underwater creatures, land inhabitants, and two
dark-skinned beauties. To my eye, the partially submerged goddess on the right represents
Mother Earth, with fish swimming around her shoulders and lizards adorning her
hair.
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| Mural on Poc Na Hostel - L. Lock photo |
Another mural with a diving theme flows along
the street-side wall of Poc Na Hostel.
Fish, jellyfish, and sharks float past
the divers. The ocean inhabitants swim among discarded plastic bottles,
aluminum beer cans, and plastic bags.
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| Poc Na mural Photo from Barbara Siebenlist |
In the centre of one diver’s regulator is
the green-arrowed symbol for recycling. Clever!
Two other murals decorate the inside refuge
for stray kittens and the main entrance at Clinica Veterinaria, locally known
as Delfino’s. Grinning cats, big-eared pups, and wide-eyed kittens play amongst colourful wildflowers and butterflies. Their expressions seem to say, “Please give me a home and love me forever.”
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| Clinica Veterinaria - L. Lock photo |
Born in the city of Viale, Entre Ríos,
Argentina, Barbara’s passion for art began as a young child; it was her form of
refuge, her secret obsession.
After finishing her high school education,
Barbara went on to study medicine.
With little time for anything but studying
and classes, Barbara let her artistic talents lie dormant for a number of
years.
In 2008, around the time that she first discovered Isla Mujeres, she
created her first island mural for the Poc Na Hostel.
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| Clinica Veterinaria - L. Lock photo |
For Barbara, capturing images on murals allows
her to convey her message to the public. Her creations are not locked inside
museums or art galleries for a few people to enjoy. They are outside, available
to all who pass by. Her paintings help her to continue traveling, discovering
new stories, and ideas for future murals.
In a month, she will be leaving Isla again, going
on a trip. But as she says, “I never go,
I always come back.”
We’ll be waiting to see what’s next from
Barbara Siebenlist and her dazzling creations.
Hasta Luego
Lynda, Lawrie, & Sparky
Death in the Vineyards
or
Grab your copies today!
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