The 8th Edition of the Renowned Asalto Festival

The XVIII edition of the renowned Asalto Festival has come to a triumphant close, standing out as the most ambitious edition in recent years. The neighborhood of La Jota, as the main protagonist, has contributed significantly to this success.

On September 25th, the city of Zaragoza witnessed a milestone in the history of the Asalto Festival, which celebrated its coming of age in grand style. Asalto has earned its place as one of the most prestigious cultural events in the city. This year, it gathered internationally renowned artistic talents such as Taroe (France), Stelios Pupet (Greece), Giulio Vesprini (Italy), Ceciro (Uruguay), Miguel Hcuar (Zaragoza, Spain), Anetta Lujkanova (Finland), and 3DFITI (France), who transformed the streets of the historic La Jota neighborhood, located on the left bank of Zaragoza, into a vibrant canvas.

Over a period of ten days, from September 15th to the 24th, the Asalto Festival continued with its distinctive focus, exploring various neighborhoods of Zaragoza in search of new intervention spaces. These interventions were complemented by a rich offering of workshops, guided tours, contests, documentary screenings, and other activities, restoring the complete format of previous editions, as it was known before the pandemic struck.

In this edition, the Asalto Fair returned as a space to bring the creations of local and national artists closer to the public through an art fair. Additionally, the screening of various documentaries was noteworthy, including "Las Paredes Hablan," Carlos Saura's cinematic work that sheds light on his unique perception of the origin of art and had its public and free premiere in the capital of Aragon as part of the Festival. Thus, this masterpiece of the beloved genius continues its journey in urban art festivals just as it did in the previous edition of Hola Utopia!, among other events supported by Montana Colors.

The premiere of the documentary "Crossroads" by Boa Mistura was also celebrated. As new additions this year, there was enjoyment of the Underground Petanque Tournament and Asalto Sonoro, an artistic manifestation that combines experimental music with urban art.

At the Asalto Festival, artistic diversity is the rule, with proposals ranging from hyperrealism to treasure hunting, with natural elements that bring the streets of La Jota to life.

Taroe, an artist with a foundation in graffiti, has depicted an American working-class neighborhood in his work, bearing notable similarities to La Jota, where he is now based. His next artistic creation will take place in Zaragoza.

Stelios Pupet, in his first major work on Spanish soil, presented a female figure, a recurring element in his artistic repertoire, characterized by the use of pixelation as a form of expression.

Anetta Lujkanova symbolized the awakening of a dream in her intervention, incorporating castanets, a typical instrument of Aragon, representing the rhythm set by deer in the center of her composition, a nod to local folklore and the neighborhood.

Giulio Vesprini, with a background in Fine Arts and Architecture, paid tribute to the neighborhood's garden area through his mural, adding his characteristic signature in the form of a word, in this case, the neighborhood's name, "La Jota," and a number, a recurring element in his works.

Ceciro, a graphic design graduate and illustrator, is a prominent social activist committed to women's emancipation, and her work focuses on this theme. In her latest creation, she presents three women at different stages of life, surrounded by a natural environment.

Miguel Hcuar, a designer and contemporary artist originally from Zaragoza and now residing in London, stands out for his pop style, enriched with a profusion of graphic and visual resources. His work represents a dream come true.

3DFITI is an innovative artistic project that uses 3D printing as a bridge between the physical and virtual worlds. It was conceived as a treasure hunt game with 3D printed pieces, merging creativity and technology. During the festival, 12 pieces of 3D art were hidden, and they were surprisingly discovered in a short time by participants who kept an eye on their social networks.

These artists have joined other talents such as Tintaentera, Ruvitijeras, Carla Nicolás, Inés Marco, Twee Muizen, Javier Carrera "Cuco," Fabiola Correas, Asis Percales, Mejor Sordo, and Manteca Session, among others, to bring "Espacio Asalto" to life.

The Asalto Festival is supported by the Zaragoza City Council and in collaboration with Tranvías de Zaragoza, Ambar, Pentel, and of course, Montana Colors. With this edition, the festival celebrates eighteen years of existence as a pioneering and nomadic event that has traveled through the city over these nearly two decades, involving more than 320 artists.

Despite this edition becoming one of the most exceptional to date, the Asalto Festival team has already set its mind and effort on preparing its nineteenth edition, which is already confirmed.

ASALTO FESTIVAL 2023 IN NUMBERS: