| |
Graffiti art in Granada.
But should it be rewarded or punished?
Graffiti art in Granada is in the news again.
But should we reward it or punish it?
Granada has a wealth of history in its monuments and buildings. Surely the last thing we want is for our historical buildings to be defaced.
An effective four step programme for cleaning up and stopping graffiti has been started in Granada city (see link below). But now, even though some wrong-doers are being punished, I'm wondering if we are actually in danger of rewarding the wrong-doing graffiti artists?
Are we on the right track?
Here's an example of punishment for graffiti art in Granada
Graffiti on the Palacio de Congresos.
Photo courtesy of Ideal newspaper
Just last week, an 18 year old teenager was caught spraying a four metre section of wall of the Granada Palacio de Congresos. This prestigious and attractive building is a theatre in its own right and is also used for meetings, conventions, presentation ceremonies and fairs. And so it is natural that defacing the Palacio is a serious matter.
Private security agents were doing their rounds when they saw the girl writing a slogan on a section of the green marble exterior. The phrase she was writing was "La luna me sabe a poco" which translates to "The moon knows me a little".
When she was apprehended there were several cans of spray paint in her backpack and her hands had black paint on them... The evidence of guilt was there for all to see.
This teenager's punishment, when it comes to the courts, will be classed as having to be "severe or very severe". We shall have to wait and see what the punishment will be.
One of the comments sent into the newspaper which reported the incident is:-
-
"These graffiti artists don't know what damage they do, such as painting on a porous marble statue and the paint canot be cleaned off. They should pay a fine to replace their damaged goods and also do community work with a sign on their backs saying what they have done". (comment paraphrased)
And Here's an example of reward for graffiti art in Granada
El Niño working on his "Wall of Light and Shadows",
a good example of graffiti art in Granada.
Photo courtesy of Ideal Newspaper
The graffiti artist Raul Ruiz, otherwise known as "El Niño" has been invited to exhibit his rendition of "Light and Shadows" in the lobby of the Alhambra Theatre. Visitors will be able to experience his various examples of "graffiti" in an exhibition-type setting.
There are two large acrylic panels serving as surfaces to show off El Niño's various techniques. The panels appear white until a light is turned on to show them to best effect.
But El Niño hasn't got where he is by having it all easy. In the past he has been "punished" for his wrong-doings. He has been made to whitewash a wall to paint out his graffiti, and has also been charged with fines totalling 3,500 euros.
The El Niño Lights and Shadows exhibition will be open for one hour before each performance at the Alhambra Theatre until 20th July 2010.
Amongst the comments in the local newspaper about El Niño is:-
-
"There are thousands of good painters who struggle every day to "make a name" and yet this character is in the media every day. Is this fair?" (comment paraphrased)
I laid out my own views about Granada graffiti in a previous post about the four step programme for dealing with graffiti art in Granada, but, to tell you the truth I'm really not sure whether punishment or reward is the best way to stop gratuitous graffiti art in Granada. Rather I think that a mixture of both is the best way forward. I love my city and don´t want it spoiled by mindless graffiti.
What do you think is the answer? Punishment, reward, or both?
Related links
"Best of" pages....
The Granada blog brings the news about graffiti art in Granada, but is it best to reward, or to punish the graffiti artists?
If you're new here, why not subscribe to my RSS feed. Just click on the above left "subscribe to The Granada Blog" link.
Let us know what you think. click on your blog comments.
Return to the bed breakfast Granada Blog Page.
To go to the top of this page click on graffiti art in Granada
To find out all about Granada go to Granada information
|
