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Uruguay: A French painter gives life to a forgotten village

French artist Leo Arti, settled in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, speaks at her home-atelier during an interview with AFP on June 12, 2017 Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

A worker takes a rest to sip traditional 'mate' (herbal infusion) in front of a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

Locals ride their bikes past a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

View of a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

Locals walk by a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

View of a pizzeria, decorated with mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

French artist Leo Arti, settled in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, stands next to one of her paintings on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

A man walks with his bike in front of a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

A young woman hangs clothes to dry in front of a mural painting by French artist Leo Arti, in the town of 25 de Agosto, in Florida, Uruguay, on June 12, 2017. Founded in 1873, Villa 25 de Agosto -a former railway station- had become after the closure of trains, "a gray town", which this French artist returned to life putting color to its walls. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI / AFP / MIGUEL ROJO / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by MAURICIO RABUFFETTI

Updated 18 July 2017 13:22

July 18, 2017 13:18

The picturesque Uruguayan village of 25 de agosto was drained of life as its residents swapped its charm for the city lights; its roads were left desolate, its train station left to crumble. However, the arrival of a French painter has changed the village’s destiny - adding a splash of colour to the village facades and by ricochet to the lives of the remaining inhabitants.