Graffitimundo - exploring the Stencilo Soul of Buenos Aires
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:20PM 
Walk anywhere in Buenos Aires and you will see them – stencils and graffiti street art that cover walls and public spaces with tropical pinks, vibrant purples, and aircraft orange. Ignored by bustling commuters, these quirky pieces of art flourished after the 2001 economic crisis, when artists took to the streets to paint uplifting messages for a population that had seen the value of its savings accounts decimated.
Today these stencilos and wall art are attracting more international attention, and graffitimundo takes a closer look at these colorful, whimsical, and eclectic expressions from artists with names like Pum Pum, Vomito Attack, Nerf and Gualicho (which means to ‘cast a spell upon’ in Spanish).
Everything from upscale restaurants to power stations has been transformed by these artists, who tag their work with initials and more to communicate with other artists. As the graffitimundo walk unfolds, tour leader Marina Charles explains the complex relationships between the artists, who either respect and admire other artists work by adding their signature, or revile rivals by sweeping in overnight and painting over an entire wall with a fresh design that can set off another counter attack.
Some stencils transform the shape of the objects they cover into something else (robots for example, using ventilation slats as eyes) while others protect those nearby: since the
In a world where public spaces are sterile and cookie cutter, the walls of Buenos Aires, like the lifestyle in the city itself, is a refreshing change from the McMallls sprouting up everywhere these days.
The stencilo in Buenos Aires is a perfect metaphor to describe the city – it is a is place of many layers, and as soon as you are aware of them, stencilos will suddenly seem to be everywhere. No matter where you walk in this Latin metropolis, messages will whisper and scream at you from walls and buildings, amusing you, confusing you, deploring you and frightening you.
All in the name of artistic expression.
graffitimundo tours take place twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays, departing at 3.30 PM from a street corner in Chacarita.
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