caza feliz: día cinco — pintada

One of the first things we noticed in Madrid was the graffiti.  It covers every flat surface within arms’ reach (and sometimes in impossible places).  It doesn’t make a good first impression.

We hoped that Granada would not be the same.

But no.  There is just as much graffiti here as there is in Madrid; even covering ancient buildings and structures.  Since I spent many hours at work painting over this kind of mess, it shocked me.  Graham may be the one the most bothered by it.  “But… don’t they know it’s illegal?” he keeps asking, mystified.

Graffiti is so ubiquitous here that I have almost stopped noticing it.  Most of it is the usual variety: tags, naked body parts, random crude drawings and scribbles.  But sometimes they’re different.

Sometimes they’re actual art.  And then you get to pause, and take it in, and wonder about the artist.

How long did it take her to paint this?  Was it in the dark?  What materials did she use?  How did she lug them all the way up to this alley/rooftop/country ruin?  Was someone holding a light?  Did they have to hide when they heard approaching footsteps?  Did they have to run?  Did they leave the work unfinished?

The artist has to know how temporary his work is.  He assumes it will be painted over, or flake off with the continuously crumbling whitewash, or get peed on by man and dog alike…

…but he just can’t stop himself from putting his current vision out there somehow.

That’s a drive you’ve got to appreciate.