Interview about his project “Amor de Barrio (Neighborhood Love) ”
29-03-2023

Name of the Street Art piece that has modified the urban space: Amor de Barrio (Neighborhood Love) 

Location : La Cava Baja, La Latina neighborhood, Madrid, Spain

Year : 2022

1- If you had to choose a Street Art piece that you created, as a transformation of the urban space, which one would you choose? How does this Street Art piece denote urban space metamorphosis?

Amor de barrio; this work gives beauty to one of the most mythical streets of one of the most representative neighborhoods of Madrid, it was made for the festivities of the Paloma of the year 2022, It was a special Ito for these typical festivities as it made the people of the neighborhood feel represented with the work starring the chupalos, typical dancers of chotis madrileño. This street now tells a story. 

2- Why did you make this Street Art piece in this urban space? Was it the town hall or the property owner who authorized or asked you to create it? Can we consider this work as illegal/vandalism or legal, what is your criteria?

This work was sponsored by the association of hoteliers and neighbors of the latina. It is a “legal” work, there was no permission from the city council but the police turned a blind eye because they saw that all the neighbors were accompanying us, it had generated a nice expectation of neighborhood union that generated a brutal socio-cultural impact. 

3- What is the message you want to communicate through this Street Art piece? Is it related to the urban space where you did it?

The message of this work is to give validity to the traditions of the city, to give prominence and a tribute to the elders. The relationship with the space is according to the celebration of the typical festivities. 

4- How was this work integrated into the urban space? What was the interaction that the inhabitants of this city had with your project? Did they participate in its creation?

The participation of the inhabitants did not go beyond spectators, although we had the unconditional support of the president of the association of restaurateurs of La Latina, who supported us at all times.  

5- Do you think it is important that the local people participate during the production of your work and that they become artists modifying the urban space or do you prefer to carry out your projects alone without anyone seeing you?

I really enjoyed returning to the experience of painting in the street, the interaction with people, those who accompanied the process, the pampering and affection gave us hope to continue believing in what we do. 

6- According to you, what is the criteria that determines your Street Art work modifies the urban space and why is your work considered aesthetically well done?

The first criterion of my work is to tell a story, that the characters tell something, beyond aesthetics, that they have a balance between transgression and design.

7-What is the “historical future” of your work? Should we take care of it, preserve it and repaint it as if it were a museum’s piece of art? Or should it be allowed to age with the city itself?

To grow old with the city itself. 

8- How does your work add value to the urban space in which it is produced?

The great majority of my work is produced in interiors and its added value is that the clients feel represented, generate different atmospheres, mobilize the public and give them new sensations. 

It’s like making them a tailor-made suit. 

9- What were the difficulties that you encountered during the completion of your work modifying the urban space?

In my case I have not found many difficulties, on the contrary, each space is always a challenge, I like to adapt to everything and live the challenge of creating and expressing my art by playing with different textures. 

10- Why is urban art important to modify the urban space? What sort of projects are you planning to do in the future ?

As I mentioned at the beginning, the flag of street art, which represents many of us artists, breaks with order and generates questions, that is the strength of this form of expression. 

On a commercial level I have 5 projects on the way, 

An Asian food market, a hotel and a restaurant that I’m still building in Bilbao, a vegetarian restaurant, a Vinoteca in Switzerland and a couple of other things on the way. 

And as a more personal project I have two large format murals for the neighborhood of La Latina. 

Interview conducted by Art Bill – journalist and owner of Street Art In Action.

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