Because I
haven’t been the best at writing, editing and uploading photos while I have
been on the go, I’m going to make up for it now that I’m taking a little break
and unwinding here in Germany. For me to
get into the mode of writing, I need a certain type of atmosphere to really get
me going. I am very much influenced by
my surroundings. The place, the sounds, the lights, the smell, the mood, the
people – all that stimulates the senses contribute to the inspiration.
And
because I’m feeling a surge of inspiration after my visit in Granada, I’m going
to work my way backwards and write about my experience in this small charming
city. Specifically in this post, my time
spent with Raul, famously known as El Niño de las Pinturas, the graffiti artist (or "Sex, El Niño de las Pinturas" his pseudonym as a writer).
I met
Raul in Barcelona after meeting a group of artists who were in town for Art Battles, an international painting competition that originated in NYC. The people involved and
the event really peaked my interest since I was a part of a similar show in
Denver called B.A.M. (Beauty, Art and Music) - a live art show showcasing the
works of a dear friend, Jay Paul Apodaca.
It’s no surprise to me that I happened to meet this group of artists in
Barcelona. I guess you could leave it to the laws of attraction…
And it
just so happened that I had chosen Granada as one of my stops in Spain. I connected with him on facebook, hoping he’d
be free to spend a day with me and my two other traveling friends and show us around from a local’s point of view. Instead,
we received an offer to stay with him and without hesitation, I eagerly accepted his very kind gesture. We were now even more excited to see Granada and to see his infamous paintings around town. One of his friends described Raul as “the King
of Granada” and I would soon later find out why.
We arrived
in Raul’s Realejo neighborhood in the evening yet, in the darkness, illuminated
under street lights, I recognized his work on the walls and store fronts along
Calle de los Molinos and Calle de Santiago.
Even the cab driver knew exactly who I was talking about, “Si, si,
si! El Niño de… si, yo se!” It was not the first time I heard someone
react that way after describing El Niño’s murals. The cab driver even got out of the car to
shake his hand and to commend him on his work.
And we would later see that almost each person we encountered on the
street knew him. Like a mayor, he would
call out their names with a nod, then extend a handshake followed by a quick
conversation, “ey tío, que tal?!” You can hear the humility and playfulness in
his voice, the same tone I heard as he rejected his friend’s ‘King of Granada’
comment. “No man, no way. I’m not even the king of my own house… my cat
is the king of my house!”
El Niño
de las Pinturas, The Boy of the Paintings, is the name he’s known for in the
streets. But he’s much more than the
paintings. He’s a child of poetry, of words, of
music, of the arts. Every surface in his
home is his canvas; Granada’s Realejo neighborhood is his museum. Cement walls and decayed building facades is
a medium for him to bring life and beauty in this world. Like any artist, full of imagination and
creativity, everything he touches turns into works of art.
El Niño’s
graffiti style is easily recognizable; unique in his own right.
They are, most often, of children but there are also of women and of the
elderly. Though whatever character he decides to paint, he captures a certain
emotion and so invites the viewer to connect with the painting. I see it in their eyes, with a contemplative
gaze that speaks a slight sense of melancholy.
But most distinctively, he paints compelling social messages interlaced within the lines of
the figures that naturally blends with the entire composition. Messages that engage the observer in an evocative
dialogue with the character and elicits wistful sentiments of youth, love, hope and sadness. To discover a
feeling, a reaction, in a painting is powerful. And the impact that his
paintings has in the streets that captivates a wide audience is remarkable.
It seems that his neighborhood embraces, and at the very least, appreciates, his works of art. Local businesses commissions him to paint their interior walls, garage doors, and display his art on menus and business cards. I've read that he was also commissioned by the Tarragona City Hall to do this massive and impressive mural for the new civic center for children, using the theme "youngsters and human rights." Contrary to the general public's opinion about graffiti, his work is neither seen as "vandalism" nor is it considered defacing public property. I think it's actually quite the opposite. It’s poetry and art that brings life to an otherwise colorless, grey cement wall and inspiration to those who connect with it.
quien juega con nuestras hijos?
[who plays with our children]
painting of a child holding a video game controller. photo courtesy of streetartutopia.com
somos mas que las palabras que nos definen
[we are more than the words that define us]
nosotros sueños
[our dreams]
cansado de no encontrar respuesta, decidí cambiar mis preguntas
[tired of not finding answers, i decided to change my questions]
imagina
El Niño de las Pinturas in Tarragona
Walking
down Santiago and Molinos with Raul, we encountered tourists taking pictures of
his works and people posing next to them.
Funny how they were unaware that the person who created
these amazing works of art was walking right past them. We
were with a legend and that realization makes me grateful to have met him.
Incredibly
gifted and smart, there’s definitely more to Raul than just his graffiti. We actually later discovered that he has also
published a book called, A Traves del Muro (Through the Wall). I'd love to find a copy of this book since it also includes some of his best works from the streets of France, Argentina, Venezuela, Holland, Hungary and Belgium. And what he described as "making noises" on his
piano was quite the opposite as he played beautiful classical chords, spontaneous in that moment, based on how he was feeling. But when you talk to him about his art and
compliment him on his talent, he responds so modestly and at times, almost seems as if he's embarrassed by the attention. It truly
was a pleasure to have had a chance to spend time with him, a gift to see his works in person and so grateful for his generosity. My trip to
Granada wouldn’t have been the same without El Niño.
el niño de las pinturas @ art battles, barcelona
no somos numeros
[we are not numbers]
sin arte, sería la vida sin color
To explore more of El Niño de las Pinturas, visit his website and other links below. Although in Spanish, his manifesto for freedom of expression with graffiti art in Granada is also an interesting read. Thank goodness for google translate.
All photos belong to i.passionista unless otherwise stated.
