A Splash of Color
by Trenia Logan
“Such an enormous feeling that I can help others…with my graffiti for example, I’ve been out painting with my friends
and while some call us gangsters, there are others who will even bring us food to thank us.” These are the words used
by San Miguel de Allende artist, José Manuel Ortiz aka Kaper in the graffiti world. While he has some walls of street
art in San Miguel, his artwork is displayed in his little studio called “La Flaka” or on hand-painted purses that are sold
in a local tienda.
When asked what he wants the world to know about him, he answered humbly, “I love my city however I’ve seen places
where there is no life. Abandoned places and that’s where I come in with a positive change sending messages via my
lines and colors. I always think about the people who pass in the public spaces and try to paint something that I like
hoping they will as well.”
There isn’t a time when he wasn’t an artist. He began with an interest in drawing with a goal of becoming a tattoo
artist. That all changed in high school when a friend showed him a magazine with graffiti. He began to learn all he
could. Now graffiti is more than art for him. It is his weapon he uses to change ideologies and create a world of color.
He acknowledges that graffiti can be used for malicious intent as well as for making the world a better place. His mural
pictured here has recently been damaged by unscrupulous graffiti artists. When commenting about this, his response
is that “graffiti is like language – it’s up to the person creating it to use it for good or evil. Mine will always, always, be
for good.”
When asked about his favorite subjects and inspirations, he’s quick to mention time spent with Adry del Rocío, Banksy
and Belin – all street artists, none of which I’d heard of before getting to know Jose. Other noted inspirations are Michel-
angelo and da Vinci. While José is well-known for being an old-school artist around town but still he doesn’t feel
successful unless he’s capturing smiles and entering the hearts of those who truly see his art and then become friends
who know him on the street.
Painting has captured him. He wants to show the world that there is so much more to live in this life. Simply existing
isn’t an option. His goal always is to give a smile to those passing by. He loves to invite people to join him who walks
by as he’s painting. There is nothing like staining your hands, face and clothes with beauty connecting your mind with
your hands changing the world little by little. Without art, he’s nothing and contributes nothing. He has plans to open
his own art studio and will be collaborating with Querencia Travel Consulting as an art guide as well as offering sketch-
ing classes for tourists.