Patti Smith in Correspondences: the longing for a sustainable world
By Juan Antonio Agudelo V.*
In 2023, Patti Smith, fragile in appearance but powerful in her creative capacity, visited Colombia for the first time. In Bogotá, together with the artistic collective Soundwalk Collective, she presented Correspondences, a proposal that can be defined as a dialogue and a collective effort to imagine a different world. This work, wrapped in a visual and poetic aesthetic, draws inspiration from great artists such as Tarkovsky, Pasolini, and Euripides, among others.
Correspondences seeks to remind us of the world we inhabit, not only from a tragic or premonitory perspective, but also from hope and love, through poetry. It may seem like a utopia, but it raises the possibility of a world where affection, longing, and aspirations still have a place.
Now, Correspondences returns to Colombia. This time, the venue will be the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (MAMM), with a special event on January 23 at the Teatro Metropolitano. On this occasion, Patti Smith’s followers in the country will have the privilege of hearing her singing and poetry live, accompanied by Soundwalk Collective. Beyond any messianic interpretation, her message is clear: she invites us to reflect on our responsibility as individuals toward the planet and all the living beings that inhabit it.
Patti Smith, American writer and singer, is an iconic figure of contemporary art. In 2010, she received the National Book Award of the United States for her autobiography Just Kids, and in 2011, she was honored with the Polar Music Prize by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In 2005, she was named Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, among other recognitions that reflect her significance as an artist.
Throughout her career, Smith has combined music, poetry, and literature. With a discography of 11 albums and a bibliography of nearly 20 books, her body of work is as vast as it is diverse. Her collaboration with Soundwalk Collective has given rise to projects such as Killer Road, a tribute to Nico, the influential German singer, as well as The Peyote Dance, Mummer Love, Peradam, and, of course, Correspondences.
That Medellín witnesses the presence of Patti Smith is a true privilege. Her legacy, forged over more than five decades, positions her as one of the most influential figures in the history of music and contemporary arts.
About Juan Antonio Agudelo V.
Journalist and cultural manager, he has worked with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín, at Comfenalco Antioquia, and at Universidad EAFIT. He has programmed the cultural activities agenda for these organizations and facilitated the arrival of international artists in Medellín such as Diamanda Galás, Madredeus, Misía, Swans, Tinariwen, Circuit Deyeux, Lee Ranaldo, Lydia Lunch, Kraft Club, Mouse On Mars, So Percusión, Esplendor Geométrico, Fátima Miranda, among many others.