The graffiti of Bogotá – in pictures

When I lived in Bogotá in 2001-2, there wasn't much graffiti or street art to be seen on the streets; ten years later, the scene is thriving. This is the Plaza La Concordia, in the colonial quarter of the city, just over the road from the apartment where I used to live Photograph: Tom Feiling

These days Bogotá is one of the safest cities of Latin America, but many images, like this one in La Macarena, are a reminder of the days when street violence was endemic Photograph: Tom Feiling

Sometimes the only way to get your message across is by throwing the paint on the wall, as shown by this monster in La Candelaria Photograph: Tom Feiling

Former president Álvaro Uribe stepped down in 2010, after eight years in office. During that time the Colombian army pushed the FARC guerrillas into the remotest parts of the countryside. This stencil accuses Uribe of being behind the 'false positives' scandal. Over 1000 guerrillas supposedly killed in combat turned out to be innocent people who had been abducted, killed, and dressed in FARC uniforms in an effort to boost the army's body count Photograph: Tom Feiling

This piece addresses the former president with the words 'I will dance on your grave'. Punk is not dead, at least not in Bogotá Photograph: Tom Feiling

A mural just off Nineteenth Street in downtown Bogotá. The police are regularly criticised for being corrupt, ineffectual and heavy handed Photograph: Tom Feiling

Recognise these guys? Here, the artist says that he would rather vote for the Three Stooges than for a moron Photograph: Tom Feiling

This piece used to read 'Your closet is full of shoes for the city and you still don't realise that you're living in a jungle' – until, that is, somebody lopped off the edge of the piece to put in a doorway Photograph: Tom Feiling

Colombia is among the most unequal countries in the world, and Bogotá's street artists regularly lampoon the violence and intolerance of the wealthy elite Photograph: Tom Feiling

This piece is on a wall opposite the National Library. Many Colombian students feel that their education system whitewashes the less savoury aspects of their country's history Photograph: Tom Feiling

'We are in resistance with the women of the Embera Katio' declares this piece in the Parque de la Independencia. The Embera Katio is an indigenous community that lives in the jungle on the border with Panama, one of many that have suffered at the hands of the country's army, guerrillas and paramilitaries Photograph: Tom Feiling

'The walls have eyes.' Colombia's war on terror has created a climate of watchfulness bordering on paranoia Photograph: Tom Feiling

Indigenous culture is a rich source of inspiration for many Colombian artists
Photograph: Tom Feiling

But the mix of races and cultures that make up Colombia has a magic all its own
Photograph: Tom Feiling