Street Art in Buenos Aires
Street art began as simple political messages used to promote one candidate or another during the 1950s. It became a popular way to promote political ideology during the 70s. However, under authoritarian dictatorships the street art in Santiago and Buenos Aires sharply decreased. Street art was seen as a subversive act and was therefore very dangerous. Artists quit signing their work to give themselves some anonymity. Collectives formed to spread messages around the cities. Street art became a way for those without a voice to influence others. “In authoritarian regimes where outlets for free expression are limited, it is one of the few gauges of political sentiment.” Messages posted during the dictatorships seldom lasted for periods of time. Especially in Santiago where the administration white washed the walls the moment a message was discovered (Graffitimundo).
After the return to democracy graffiti in Buenos Aires exploded. The same was true in 1990 when Chile also returned to democracy. Most graffiti spoke out against the brutality of the regime. In both cities former concentration camp were covered in messages such as “aqui se tortura.” Today memorial murals can be found in both cities.
Buenos Aires experienced a large increase in street art following the economic collapse in 2001. An estimated 20% of Argentinean adults were unemployed during that period. A number of collectives formed to express the public’s frustration with the state of the economy. They went out each night to paint the city with stenciled messages. One popular imagine to come out of that period was the picture of US president George Bush with Mickey Mouse ears.
Stencils were replaced in popularity by murals after 2003. The artists started to create larger pieces with more colors and details. They used the streets as urban canvases to convey new messages and images. A collective gallery was formed on the second level of the Post Bar. The gallery gives the artists the opportunity to display and sell their work on canvas. The gallery is unique to those found in other cities because the artists do not have to hide their identity. The police in Buenos Aires do not pursue street artists as criminals or vandals.
Going to Buenos Aires? I highly recommend a tour with www.Graffitimundo.com
After the return to democracy graffiti in Buenos Aires exploded. The same was true in 1990 when Chile also returned to democracy. Most graffiti spoke out against the brutality of the regime. In both cities former concentration camp were covered in messages such as “aqui se tortura.” Today memorial murals can be found in both cities.
Buenos Aires experienced a large increase in street art following the economic collapse in 2001. An estimated 20% of Argentinean adults were unemployed during that period. A number of collectives formed to express the public’s frustration with the state of the economy. They went out each night to paint the city with stenciled messages. One popular imagine to come out of that period was the picture of US president George Bush with Mickey Mouse ears.
Stencils were replaced in popularity by murals after 2003. The artists started to create larger pieces with more colors and details. They used the streets as urban canvases to convey new messages and images. A collective gallery was formed on the second level of the Post Bar. The gallery gives the artists the opportunity to display and sell their work on canvas. The gallery is unique to those found in other cities because the artists do not have to hide their identity. The police in Buenos Aires do not pursue street artists as criminals or vandals.
Going to Buenos Aires? I highly recommend a tour with www.Graffitimundo.com
El Nestornauta
This piece of art was created by La Campora, a political graffiti collective. El Nestornauta was created in response to the death of Nestor Kirchner, former president of Argentina. The stencil was created by placing Nestor’s face onto the body of El Eternauta. El Eternauta was a comic that depicted an apocalyptic Buenos Aires. In the comic El Eternauta was a hero who led the resistance against an alien invasion. During the dictatorship the comic’s themes were parrallel to those in Buenos Aires. It was very critical of the oppressive military regime. As a result the artist disappeared. A year later his four daughters also disappeared. They are presumed to have been murdered in a clandestine detention center.
It does not take much imagination to determine why Nestor was cast as El Eternauta. He played a large role in delivering Argentina from economic colapse. It is also a fitting tribute to his political work in ending the impunity for crimes committed during the dirty war. One of his first political acts was to repeal “Ley de Punto Final” and "Ley de Obediencia Debida.” The repeal stripped former generals of their impunity and at last paved the way for justice to finally be served. For many proponents of the Nunca Mas movement Nestor Kirchner was a hero. |
Stencilland
This particular piece was created by an artist who goes by the moniker Stencil Land. According to Graffitimundo, Stencil Land got his start with stencils whilst creating advertisements. He later decided to use the technique to create his own pieces of work. The piece to the left is seen all over Buenos Aires beneath large political slogans and campaign posters. Stencil Land wants it to appear that the boy in the painting painted the messages and is now sitting down to contemplate their meaning.
Most of Stencil Land's pieces incorporate manipulated images. One of his most common stencils seen in Buenos Aires is one of Michaelangelo's David sipping mate, the popular drink in Argentina. |