Aldabas
2022
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena was founded in 1533 by the Spanish empire. The old town is still made up out of historic colonial buildings, many of which are adorned by a variety of door knockers. These ornamented appliances were popular in Spain and swept over to the South American colony, where the saying “a tal casa tal aldaba”, or “to each house its door knocker” became common. The knocker was a display of social status and profession. Maritime motifs were a symbol of sea merchants, whereas lion heads represented members of the military and lizards stood for nobility. The door knockers turn a walk through the walled city into an exploration of Cartagenas former residents – if you know what to look for.