Looking for rich culture but can't decide between chic Parisian-style art and cuisine, more intense features of a bull fighting city like Barcelona, or the fashions and clubs of LA? Don't choose any of those. Add some red wine and sweaty tango to your day dream, and you've got the pumping beat of Buenos Aires, the bohemian city of cultural innovation.
What more could you want to experience a top notch blend of Latin American and European art, music, food and fashion? And to mingle with people from the most diverse mix of cultural backgrounds all looking to experience the good life?
The Argentinean city isn't all steak and tango though; it's quickly becoming known as the bohemian capital of the world and a city that refuses to stop innovating its cultural offerings. One major trend to note is cumbia music, a huge craze in Buenos Aires right now. And, the NY Times notes, "Buenos Aires's buzzing art scene, meanwhile, is being touted as the next big thing."
One of the most alluring feature of Buenos Aires, however, is how unbelievably cheap it is. Oddly enough, it's not those on a budget who jet down to spend time here, but the more affluent who want to really live the high life.
“There are expats everywhere tapping into the city's thriving cultural and arts scene,†said Grant C. Dull, the founder of Zizek and WhatsUpBuenosAires.com. "And it's not backpacker types, but people with money and contacts."
The New York Times adds, "Artists from the United States, England, Italy and beyond are snapping up town houses in scruffy neighborhoods and giving the areas Anglo-ized names like Palermo SoHo and Palermo Hollywood."
The most attractive part is the rich cultural scene, a mixture not offered in any other city in the world. It's a destination for people who want both to indulge in limitless wine at gallery openings, but also to hit the clubs, get sweaty and dance wildly until the sun comes up.
"Drawn by the city's cheap prices and Paris-like elegance, legions of foreign artists are colonizing Buenos Aires and transforming this sprawling metropolis into a throbbing hothouse of cool," the New York Times says. "Musicians, designers, artists, writers and filmmakers are sinking their teeth into the city's transcontinental mix of Latin élan and European polish, and are helping shake the Argentine capital out of its cultural malaise after a humbling economic crisis earlier this decade."
Featured in the gallery:
Daniel Luna, 30, at her gallery, Apetite which is "an irreverent, punk-inflected gallery in San Telmo."
Bohemians-in-Exile
Buenos Aires
Trend Themes
1. Cumbia Music - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the fusion of traditional cumbia music with contemporary genres to create a new sound that appeals to a global audience.
2. Buenos Aires Art Scene - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop digital platforms and virtual experiences that connect artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts from around the world to the vibrant Buenos Aires art scene.
3. City Colonization by Foreign Artists - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create co-living and co-working spaces tailored specifically for foreign artists in Buenos Aires, fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and creative experimentation.
Industry Implications
1. Music Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build a streaming platform dedicated to showcasing and promoting cumbia music to a global audience, connecting artists and fans from different parts of the world.
2. Art Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop an online marketplace for buying, selling, and exhibiting artwork inspired by the Buenos Aires art scene, providing artists with a global platform to showcase their work.
3. Hospitality Industry - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create boutique hotels and accommodations tailored to the needs and preferences of foreign artists, offering immersive cultural experiences and facilitating networking opportunities within the Buenos Aires creative community.