‘Spaik’, el arte urbano heredero del muralismo mexicano | Cultura

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on their journey in graffiti art, initially influenced by New York and Los Angeles styles. However, they later sought to create something more authentic, drawing from their own culture. By integrating elements like patterns, symbols, textiles, and pre-Hispanic legends, the artist shifted away from foreign influences and embraced a deeper connection to their roots. They emphasize the importance of creating art that resonates with the local community, ensuring it’s both appreciated and respected by the people who live with it.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker started painting graffiti with the typical style of letters and bombs, inspired by New York and Los Angeles.
• 😀 Despite creating good graffiti, people from the neighborhood would say it looked like something from New York, thinking only foreigners could create that style.
• 😀 The speaker noticed the influence of subliminal messages in society, where people prefer fast food like hamburgers and drinks like Coca-Cola over local options like tamarind water.
• 😀 Influenced by these observations, the speaker decided to shift their graffiti style away from American influences and focus on their own culture.
• 😀 The speaker began incorporating patterns, symbols, textures, and designs from textiles, embroidery, and crafts into their work.
• 😀 They also drew inspiration from pre-Hispanic legends and animals once regarded as gods, using them in their art.
• 😀 The artist approached their work as if illustrating certain paragraphs or stories, embedding deeper cultural meanings in their pieces.
• 😀 The speaker believes in the importance of creating art that resonates with the local community and is appreciated and cared for by them.
• 😀 They make sure their art does not impose or invade, but rather becomes a part of the environment that people cherish.
• 😀 The artist emphasizes a balance between personal artistic expression and the cultural context of the space they are working in.

Q & A

What was the artist's initial approach to graffiti?

The artist's initial approach to graffiti involved painting typical elements like letters or 'bombs,' influenced by the graffiti styles seen in New York and Los Angeles.

How did the local community perceive the artist's early graffiti work?

The local community often viewed the artist's work as impressive but felt that it resembled the style of New York graffiti, leading them to think it was foreign or not entirely authentic to the local context.

What impact did the commercial influence of American culture have on local preferences?

The artist notes that the local population, especially children, preferred American products like Coca-Cola and hamburgers over traditional local options, influenced by the idea that 'American' products were superior.

How did the artist respond to the influence of American graffiti culture?

The artist decided to move away from the Americanized graffiti style, focusing on incorporating elements of their own cultural heritage into their artwork, shifting from letters and American symbols to traditional local motifs.

What cultural elements did the artist choose to incorporate into their graffiti?

The artist began integrating patterns, symbols, colors, textures from textiles, embroidery, crafts, and fragments of pre-Hispanic legends and animals, drawing inspiration from local traditions and history.

How does the artist view their role in the community when creating street art?

The artist views their role as not just imposing their work on the community but creating something that people can appreciate and care for, emphasizing the importance of local involvement and appreciation.

Why does the artist emphasize the need to adapt their work to the local context?

The artist wants their art to resonate with the local community, not just to be a foreign influence. They aim to ensure that their artwork is both meaningful and well-received by the people who live with it.

What role do pre-Hispanic legends play in the artist's work?

Pre-Hispanic legends and the animals depicted as gods serve as important references in the artist's graffiti, allowing them to illustrate specific stories and historical elements that connect with local cultural identity.

How does the artist view the process of creating graffiti in public spaces?

The artist sees graffiti as a form of personal expression that can be created freely, but they also recognize the importance of leaving behind work that the community can appreciate and protect after the artist has gone.

What is the artist’s approach to balancing their personal artistic expression with community engagement?

The artist strives to ensure that their work not only reflects their personal expression but also resonates with the community, creating a balance between artistic freedom and local appreciation.