El Odio Graffiti

• 9

Hatred is the most powerful negative emotion. It is destructive and sickening. Whatever you're going to do to satisfy this feeling will even create more hate. In the end it will eat you up, it destroys you from the inside-out. I know many people really hate graffiti, either way I'm looking forward to reading your comments. (:
The person that is responsible for this graffito named himself "El Odio" (lit. The Hatred). Dunno, who he is and why he chose this name. My guess is it is a reference to graffiti's bad reputation.

• I'm reading: El Odio Graffiti

Bridge Pier Graffito

• 9

Sometimes graffiti look good sometimes they don't. Sometimes graffiti convey social or political messages, sometimes not. I'm not sure what category this graffito falls under. I guess it's the fun category. And yes, graffito is the singular form of graffiti. The name El Rechifle (the Boo) is probably not connected to the graffito but refers to an identically named Murga group in Palermo. Murga is a carnival hilarity which is very popular in Argentina. The artist can probably be identified by the capital A in the circle on the right. I don't have a clue who (s)he is, though.
What do you see in this graffito?

• I'm reading: Bridge Pier Graffito

... Motor Home after the Vandals

• 19

If yesterday's post didn't bother you, this shouldn't either! Surprise, surprise... this is the same vehicle on the same spot just a few months later. Ui dios mio, what a difference some paint makes! As it turns out, a young French artist named Louis D’Anjou whose alias is 'GROLOU' came along and painted the rusty colectivo all over. Happy and multicolored faces are his specialty. And I don't think, you can do this in such a flawless way without the owner's permission. Still, the question remains about the 'what and why' of the van. Some of you commented on yesterday's post, such a vehicle wouldn't last long in your city, especially not in front of the Congress. Well, I would have expected the same for Buenos Aires but nobody seems to bother. Maybe that's because old, rusty cars and vans are quite common in the cityscape.

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Motor Home before the Vandals...

• 11

There is this mysterious vintage camper van on the Plaza de los Dos Congresos, just a stone's throw away from the Argentine National Congress. I was always curious about the "what and why" of its presence, apart from parking. Is it a form of political protest, a camper who will not leave until his/her problem is solved in Congress? Protesters are pretty common on this plaza, either as single demonstrators or in groups. But maybe the van was just left to rot and gather more rust. Anyway, it obviously has become sort of a message board with all the graffiti tags on it. If you know more about it leave me a comment. Well, not on the bus of course. (;

• I'm reading: Motor Home before the Vandals...

Stencil Pieces and Graffiti

• 11

A main characteristic of street art is the "temporary" aspect which is naturally associated with this art form. With each new tour through the city you will discover new graffiti and stencil pieces. Wherever you come across street art today it may be painted over or sandblasted away tomorrow. This transitory nature makes street art so interesting. By the time you're done with this post, new stencils and graffiti will surely be added on some walls somewhere in Buenos Aires.

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H is for Happy Graffiti Scene

• 19

Street art is all around in Buenos Aires. The scene is very vibrant and has some very gifted artists. Although not everyone is happy with graffiti in public places, the majority here seems to be easy-going when it comes to urban street art. Even the police have a laissez-faire position towards graffiti as long as it is not offensive, rude or contains any kind of slurs. Some even say you can paint the wall of a police station without getting into real trouble. Probably that's why private property is usually respected in Buenos Aires. Moreover, the creative output is mostly on a high level of quality and expression. The cheerful wall painting in the picture is to be found in San Telmo and was done by an artist called LOUIS aka GROLOU.

• I'm reading: H is for Happy Graffiti Scene

Stencil Mass Media Critique

• 16

The shit of today is the fertilizer of tomorrow. Wow, what a strong statement and so many ways to interpret the message behind the stencil. The bottom line seems clear enough, nothing is as bad as there isn't something good in it — be it just to serve as raw material to produce a good fertilizer. In my understanding the stencil refers to the concentration in the mass media landscape and the uniform opinion that comes with it. Those newspapers ain't good for nothing but to work up a massive ****. What's your comprehension?

• I'm reading: Stencil Mass Media Critique

Foxy Stencils for a Quicker Kitchen

• 10

Wow, amazing how time flies! Buenos Aires Perception turns 6 month today. To celebrate this event, I thought it would be a great idea to cook something quickly. Hope you are hungry. Well, if you ever want to utilize a pressure cooker by yourself just follow the instructions given in the stencil on the door.

1. Choose a recipe from the pressure cooker cookbook of your choice.
2. Specify cooking method and cooking time.
3. Pour required amount of liquid into the pressure cooker.
4. Add the food. Use the cooking rack, if desired.
5. Make sure the vent pipe is open and unclogged.
6. Cook for the length of time specified in step 2.
7. Reduce pressure by opening the air vent. Watch out for steam that will escape. Make sure the pressure is completely down. Only then open the pressure cooker carefully!
8. Voila! Serve the food and enjoy your meal.

• I'm reading: Foxy Stencils for a Quicker Kitchen

Painted Wild Life in Argentina

• 7

Recently I have learnt something about rhinocerotidae. As a matter of fact, rhinoceroses are three-toed, either one or two-horned and the smallest of their kind is Sumatran. These animals are native to Africa, India and southern Asia.
I have reasons to believe there is an Argentine subspecies, too. For those who don't trust me I have photographic evidence to prove it. So, it is my honorable duty to aptly name it and I proudly cognominate it diceros bicornis argentiniensis coeruleus. Attention, the big blue guy looks like he is about to launch a running attack targeting you. Because of his size and the fact that the Javan Rhinoceros has only one horn, I put two and two together and conclude this specimen is closely related to the African type. In the end, rhinos and graffiti have one thing in common: Both may be extant one day and extinct the next!

• I'm reading: Painted Wild Life in Argentina

Weird Snake Wall Painting in San Telmo

• 9

I chanced upon this mural while walking through the barrio of San Telmo and was wondering what's up with that weird image. It appeared pretty grim to me and not as cheerful as others I have seen in the past. I don't think there are any hidden metaphors here that are too deep, however, it remains a bit hard to grasp.
By the way, can you spot the telephone distribution box?

• I'm reading: Weird Snake Wall Painting in San Telmo

Car "Doors" by Gustavo Gagliardo aka DEFI

• 6

You never know what you might find in a city like Buenos Aires. That day it was street art on a dented, discarded car hood by the artist Gustavo Gagliardo aka DEFI. The hood is part of a whole collection of daubed car parts, mostly doors, which he had distributed across the neighborhood of Palermo. His mobile art is designed for public environments like the streets. Because most people won't recognize the pieces as art, they are always chained to prevent them from being accidentally removed by the CLIBA or cartoneros. DEFI's main element is a simplified cat face that makes his work distinctive. He exhibits all over the world but especially in street art friendly cities like Barcelona, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Milan and of course Buenos Aires. If you want to learn more about Gustavo, please visit lindokiller.com.

• I'm reading: Car "Doors" by Gustavo Gagliardo aka DEFI

Happy Birthday, Che Guevara

• 8

Today is the birthday of one of Argentina's best known icons. I bet you have already figured out: Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, better known as Che Guevara. He would be turning 81 years old. He was born in Rosario, just a few hours away from Buenos Aires and became known as one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution. He is being loved and hated by people all over the world and has become one of Argentina's biggest exports. The U.S. Time Magazine voted him one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century. Undoubtedly Che Guevara is a ubiquitous global symbol of counterculture.

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Big Fat Blob Graffiti

• 9

This graffiti reminds me so much of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars. You know the 600-year-old big fat slug that sits around and eats crazy looking lobsters for snacks. I assume there is a link between the painter and George Luckas' Star Wars trilogy. Thus I guess the artist is probably male, in his 30s and a science fiction fan.
This begs the question, do you also believe that this is a funny Jabba the Hutt takeoff or is it just a wonderfully weird image?

• I'm reading: Big Fat Blob Graffiti

Abstract Graffiti in Expressionism Style

• 8

I found this graffiti in the Barracas neighborhood in Buenos Aires. It's very close to the Parque Lezama in San Telmo. I'm not sure what the street artist was going to express here, but the style of the graffiti feels like an experimental approach of crossing styles such as Cubism and Comic.
Do you like abstract art?

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Street Art Scene of Buenos Aires

• 7

I've seen a lot of graffiti and urban street art around the globe but the scene of Buenos Aires turns out to be the funniest and happiest of all. If you walk with open eyes through the city you will find a lot of these colorful art works. Whatever you may think about graffiti, the reputation of those urban paintings is pretty bad and they are polarizing people. What do you think? Is graffiti art or just an urban scourge?

• I'm reading: Street Art Scene of Buenos Aires

Simplistic Marker Tags at Galerías Bond Street

• 2

Tagging is indeed a worldwide phenomenon, so in Buenos Aires. Opponents of graffiti may argue that tagging is just vandalism. In this case there is no reason to be upset because this tagged wall is in a youth culture related shopping mall in the Barrio Norte. Even though this may not initially appear as a work of art to everyone, the tags are forming an interesting structure. I would go along with Marcel Duchamp who once brought up the very valid question, "Can one make works of art which are not 'of art'?"

• I'm reading: Simplistic Marker Tags at Galerías Bond Street