BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAY
Positions and opinions about war and conflict can be “mainstream” or they may be “fringe”, and historically they can switch positions after the wars are over. One thing is nearly always assured: General Dynamics, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin will be there to cash in on the opportunity.
As just one data point, GD made $38,500,000,000 dollars in revenue last year.
Today as weapons are flowing into Ukraine and reportedly thousands of people are being killed and parts of Ukraine are being destroyed, Spanish street artist Escif creates a giant plume of smoke that emanates from a 100 Euro note in his newest mural in Valencia, Spain. Follow the smoke, follow the money.
“La Guerra Comienza Aqui (The War Starts Here)” is the name of the mural he painted in the last few days in collaboration with Center Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau.
Organizers and the artist say the new work is meant to illustrate the fact that the military industry has a lot to gain in a climate of conflict and armed violence and has the support of governments and financial entities to do so.
“That is one of the readings that can be made of this mural: there are always those who profit from conflicts like the one we are seeing in Ukraine,” says Escif about the painted work near the old Fe de València hospital. “In the last week, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, we have seen the stock price of the large arms companies, located almost entirely in Northern countries, rise”.
Sensible people may be looking for an off-ramp right now to avoid further escalation in this situation – perhaps even a way for Putin to save face so we can stop this before it spirals into a world war, a nuclear war, or both. But hope dims as you see a never-ending parade of corporate television “news” analysts representing the arms industry, who are rarely identified as such.
“The military path, continuing to spend on weapons and fueling the arms race between countries, can only result in war, never peace. As much as the opposite is repeated to us”, concludes Jordi Calvo, an economist who has a PhD in peace, conflicts and development, who researches the defense economy and is the coordinator of the Centre Delàs. One wonders if there is a path to peace in the current situation. The opposite, dearly beloved, is unthinkable.
238
138
45
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
A cheerful greeting to you from Street Artist Hellbent on Christmas Eve.
"The Homo Riot opening was a great success," says JB Jones of The Site Unseen, who threw this solo show for one of the rare gay Street Artists who are out of the closet and on the corrugated metal wal...
Here is the first public look at the new print by Li-Hill which he made especially to aid Heliotrope programs in Haiti and Braddock, Pennsylvania for Swoon and Heliotrope Prints. The limited run pri...
Our weekly focus on the moving image and art in the streets. And other oddities. Now screening : 1. Narcelio Grud Mixes Cement and Sprays It 2. BIKISMO Chrome Dog in Wynwood 3. Horfée on a R...
For the ninth straight year, BSA brings Nuart to our readers – artists, academics, collectors, instructors, curators, fanboys /girls, photographers, organizers, all. Not sure who else has been cov...
