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.
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