Chinese cultural icons in Argentine art fileteado

BUENOS AIRES - Cultural icons such as Chinese calligraphy, dragons, and silhouette charts are popping up a uniquely Argentine art form known as fileteado, which has deepened the cultural relationship between the two countries.

With stylized lines and climbing plants, fileteado is a type of artistic drawing and lettering typically used in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires. It is used to adorn all kinds of beloved objects including vehicles, street signs, shop fronts, mugs, and sneakers.

Known for its bright colors and curlicue flourishes, fileteado was introduced by European immigrants during the 1900s, and was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.