In a unique and deliberately irreverent event, a new edition of the “Arte Malo” contest took place—a space where talent is not a requirement and mistakes become a virtue. The event brought together students from across ESPOL with a premise that flips the usual logic of academic art on its head: here, it’s not technique that wins, but the flawed stroke, the clumsy attempt, and the piece you never thought would be exhibited.
The event opened with the “Canto Malo” activity, a performance that set the tone for the event: spontaneous, free, and without any pretensions of perfection. From there, the day progressed to the visual exhibition and the main awards ceremony, recognizing those who stood out precisely because they didn’t stand out.
Resultados del Concurso
Bad Art
First Place: Belén Villagómez
Second place: Denisse Lágaro, FCV
Hall of the Rejected
First Place: Alejandro Tarira, FADCOM
Second place: Mónica Quimis FADCOM
Xuxa Award for the Strangest Work — Winner
Odalys Farías, FCSH
All the submitted works were displayed in a prominent location on campus, giving public recognition to what is usually hidden or not shared. Arte Malo transformed error into a gallery, missteps into an exhibition, and graphic failure into a shared experience.
© Photography and Text: Patricia Robelly
