Ahead of the eighth anniversary of the Colombian Peace Agreement later this month, the exhibition ‘Seeds of Peace’ gathers the photographs taken by peace signatories, their families and community members, showing their commitment to a life in peace across Colombia.

The exhibition 'Seeds of Peace: territories that flourish, gazes that transform' gathers 70 photographs produced as a collective effort by the families of former combatants and members of the communities where they are transitioning to a civilian life after the 2016 Peace Agreement ended decades of conflict in the country.
 

"The photos are the voices of boys and girls of the Territorial Areas for Training and Reintegration (TATRs),” explained Esteban Vanegas, the curator of the exhibition, which is the result of photography workshops organized between 2021 and 2024 by the Miradas Collective.

Through the photos, on display at the Gabriel García Márquez Cultural Center in Bogotá, the student photographers show their perspective on the peacebuilding process across different territories of Colombia, navigating the themes of nature, gender, absence, the impact of war and family.

“There is an intentional absence in the photos: the weapons,” said the curator. “This is not because they do not exist in the territories, but because the students’ commitment has always been to germinate the seed of life and not death.”

With the title “Seeds of Peace” (in Spanish “Semillas de Paz”), the exhibition looks at the future, reflecting the new lives, dreams, productive projects of the families of former combatants and their reconciliation with neighboring communities.
 

“This exhibition is a recognition of the commitment and resilience of the signatories of the Peace Agreement who, despite the challenges, have remained steadfast in their reintegration process,” said the UN Verification Mission in Colombia that supported the exhibition.

"Seeds of Peace" also received support from the European Union, the European Fund for Peace, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Colombian Ministry of Cultures.

The exhibition will remain open until 23 November, accompanying the celebrations of the eighth anniversary of the Peace Agreement. The photographs will also be exhibited in Brussels during the month of December. 

Silvia Ellena
Associate Public Information Officer
Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs