With the international banking crises continuing to force everyday citizens to suffer, Spain is one of the more recent “developed” countries being forced to cut programs and services for its people. Just this past Saturday tens of thousands of Spaniards marched through cities across the country to protest deep austerity, the privatization of public services and political corruption. With tens of thousands of closed businesses and an economy in severe retraction and cuts to education and health programs, the pain hits the youth particularly hard as 55% of people under the age of 25 are unemployed.
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
To reflect this environment on the streets, four artists have begun a Street Art installation in Barcelona that highlights the human aspect of the economic crisis using sculptures of hands strategically placed in the public sphere. The results of HANDS are subtle but effective, and many passersby interact with them, take photos of them, pose with them, stand and discuss these gestural conversation pieces. Poignant and pointed, the installations aim to help people draw the connection between the crisis and those who ultimately are responsible.
All involved in the field of visual arts, the artists who have a hand in HANDS are Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. You may now applaud if you like.
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Octavi Serra, Mateu Targa, Daniel Llugany and Pau Garcia. “HANDS”. January, 2013. Barcelona, Spain. (photo © Pau Garcia Sanchez)
Go to HANDS for more about this project.
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
One of the electrifying aspects of Street Art for many people is the prospect that public space can actually be a place to create within. There is something about the hand-rendered painting or tag tha...
Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. FULL COLOR: An Irish Street Art Story.2. Kermit and Fozzy are the scenario, dawg. Tribe Cal...
The dreams of men; full of adventure, longing, Doritos, cars, robots, babes. Vesod knows this all too well, as his newest wall unmoors them and sets them aflight, afloat, askance, atwitter. Stuck ins...
A new cultural eruption in the heart of Pompei, Italy, the first edition of the Pompei Street Festival in September included frescoes and free music and many opportunities for people to experience co...
Today on BSA we have the photographer Fer Alcala to share his experiences and photos as he was capturing the newest mural from Aryz in his hometown in Spain at the very end of the year. - by Fe...