Street Art
[Buenos Aires, Argentina]
song: The Trapeze Swinger by Iron & Wine
“and they went on to say that the pearly gates have some eloquent graffiti..”
in the 1950’s political parties began to pay artists to tag slogans and advertisements on public surfaces throughout the city. this practice ended abruptly in 1979 when all forms of political protest were banned during the Dirty War.
in response to the 2001 economic crisis, which left an estimated 20% of the argentine work force unemployed, street art resurrected. this time with a definite leaning towards fine art.
in the spectrum between public art and vandalism, street art generally finds itself unstably in the middle. its very definition classifies it a a rogue art form, unsanctioned works on public spaces. though many street artists have gained renown as legitimate artists, few cities are as welcoming as Buenos Aires. cities such as Los Angeles, London, Paris, and New York have thriving street art scenes. however, artists in these cities are generally limited to less visible canvases such as alley ways or works that can be completed quickly, under the cover of night. the rare treasure that is the open-air street gallery is made possible in Buenos Aires by a welcoming public and a police force willing to turn a blind eye. many businesses and fine restaurants have begun to hire well known artists such as RunDontWalk and Pum Pum to create works on their own facades-- mostly to discourage less-developed works and propaganda from making an appearance.
to give you an idea of the sheer concentration of street art, the works above can be found within the same city block in the San Telmo barrio. each represents a different approach to a common medium.
- this stenciling is a popular argentine cartoon character, paired with political advertising for the reelection of current president Christina Kirchner.
- this work shows Argentina’s (disputed) territorial claim in Antarctica, a subject of some political controversy.
conclusion: to see some of the best art in Buenos Aires, you may never have to go indoors (though i do highly recommend making a visit to MALBA and Bellas Artes museums.) during midday, travel with a friend, leave valuables behind and get lost in the immense concrete gallery of Buenos Aires.