it's all about bars..., markets and food

Last day in BA.
Our friend Maura  went home and we are taking our bus to Mendoza.

Little stroll through Buenos Aires

Fancy a theatre? Or bookshop? Or both?

Ateneo is one of those places about which you are actually not sure where you are. At a first glance it looks like theatre but ... surprise! You are in a bookshop !!!

Buenos Aires Street Art

Buenos Aires Street Art has a very vivid scene. It's known internationally and has deveopped only in late 90's. The huge increase in graffiti and Street Art was triggered by the political chaos that followed the economic crisis in 2001.

Today we can find here huge variety of tags, to sticker art and posters. The last ones interested me the most. 

They call themselves Street Artists or Wall Painters.  Together with Matt we went to Colegiales to see some interesting paints.

Nowadays, when Banksy's work is being auctioned, we have different perceive of Street Arts. Take a look:

 

 

Rats are one of favourites motives of street artists. They are symbol of the protest.

 

The author of this one works for Cartoon Network and is known fashion stylist. His paints are inspired by cartoons.

really an art?

The one below is created by a famous italian street artist called Blu. Check his youtube movies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uuGaqLT-gO4

First graffiti in Buenos Aires appeared in 1994 which is much later than in Europe or USA. Political regime didn't make it any easier. Blu was one of the first artist. In the paint below we see a baby. It's an alegory of the country under military dictatorship between 1976-1982. The interpretation was very controversial and Blu never took part in this discussion.

Some of interpetations say that the child got a 'dictatorship pill' into his mounth and it makes him sick. However, Blu leaves it open.

Based on stop motion technique he created a 6 mins movie which took him a round year.

This paint is consider as one of most important voices against crisis and showing the current political moods. In 2001 due to market crash, 1 peso equals to 1 dollar went down to 5 pesos=1 dollar. People lost money of their lives.  This resulted in many protests.

THe paint below is a result of Buenos Aires Street Art Event from 2012. The winner had this big wall for his disposal.

Btw: I didn't mention that in Argentina street painting is legal and depends only on owner of the property.

Warning: facebook knows what you ae doing at the moment :)

YES, it's legal

Pop Art style graffiti inside one of Palermo's Cafe.

 

Protest against deforestation

 

 

Thanks to Matt for a great trip!

You can find him under:

http://www.buenosairesstreetart.com/tours/  

 

 

One night in Buenos Aires

I have the impression that BA never sleeps. Only when it gets dark, the city shows us it's another (better) face. First reason is:

Milongas.
It starts usually around 22. Not earlier. It's  perfect to have dinner before. And don't go to the restaurant earlier than at 8pm. It's considered as early.
El Afronte in Av. Peru 571 is one of those not too touristic places where you just can seat in the corner and observe.
If you are lucky, you will see the live band, otherwise, the tango is played from the old cd.

 

Tango itself is thought to start in Buenos Aires in 1880's where lot of european immigrants arrived in BA to steer their fortune in a new country. They settled down but missing their women, they left behind, sought out cafes and bordellos to ease the loneliness. Here, they danced with each other, while waiting for 'their lady' to be available - women were scrace back then! 

Later on the trend spread to the Europe and USA. In 1955 however, Argentina became a military state intolernat of artistic national activities. Some of Tango songs were banned. The tango became 'vivid' again after 1983 when argentinians wanted an experience of a new life.

There are 4 styles of dancing tango. We have taken our first lesson and it's not sth you can learn in one hour. The fact is that you'd better know your stuff when you go there :)