The street art of Buenos Aires gallery
The street art of Buenos Aires gallery
NYREE MCFARLANE
Last updated 11:09, April 28 2015
Walk the streets of Buenos Aires, and on every corner and slab of concrete you'll find evidence of expression - from crude political scribbles to arresting pieces of art.
The city of nearly three million is cosmopolitan, vibrant and yet also still reeling from injustice in its recent history - this plays a large part in it having become one of the world's street art capitals.
From 1976-1983 Argentina was held under a brutal military dictatorship that 'disappeared' over 30,000 citizens. Then, from 1998-2002 a devastating financial crisis saw one in five Argentines out of work (the disappearances this time were of everyday people's money, with the government freezing bank accounts).
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This stencil work hovers across the Navy School of Mechanics in Nuñez, a building that was used as a clandestine detention and torture centre during the period of state terrorism from 1974-1983.
Around 5000 people were sent into the building at the time, only 150 ever emerged.
This work turns the once ill-used building into a memorial - the child is holding a photo of one of the 'desaparecidos' (disappeared), and the logo on her chest is the symbol for the human rights group HIJOS (Sons and Daughters for Identity and Justice Against Forgettings and Silence).
HIJOS was started by the sons and daughters of the disappeared (many of whom were illegally adopted out, and are only just discovering their identity) and much of their work involves highlighting how people who they believe to be war criminals are still roaming the streets today.
More:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/south-america/67631465/the-street-art-of-buenos-aires