RAVAN

In the rugged tunnels beneath the valley, crowned by the colorful brick houses that shape this Caribbean city, the matte steel Caracas metro runs its course. Marked by its distinct red, yellow, green, blue, and black lines, the system forms the acronym RAVAN, the title of this book.

Red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence; yellow reflects the nation’s fertile land and natural wealth; green refers to the Ávila — the mountain bordering Caracas to the north, conveying peace and harmony; blue stands for the Caribbean Sea lapping at its shores — and black represents the lines that have remained under construction over the years.

Caracas has long attracted global attention for its recent history. Through a selection of rare and historical images, this publication guides us through the past of graffiti writing on the distinctive metro of Venezuela’s capital, spanning from the late 2000s to 2024. It reveals what many may see as irrational or obscure, yet for others evokes memories of a moment in time when the unimaginable felt within reach. The emotional resonance of this record lies in the near impossibility of accessing such scenes today. And still, through these images, we allow ourselves to dream of what might — someday — return.

92 pages,
embossed dust jacket mounted on a paperback cover

English and Spanish text

19 × 28.5 cm

95 color photographs

250 copies, hand-numbered

ISBN: 978-90-81710-16-9