Barcelona Photoblog

September 15, 2007

Human Statue in Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Elf or Vulcan?

Human Statue in Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Elf or Vulcan? [enlarge]

Yet another human statue in Las Ramblas, I wonder how many they can be! This time I can't really tell what he is, an elf, a goblin or a Vulcan like Mr. Spock from the Stark Trek saga. At the moment of shooting he was not working. In fact he was smoking and had this vacant stare into space way beyond his future customers. I bet he was thinking about what a crap this job can get to be. But then he seemed to sigh and started finishing his makeup. For the point of view of people photography these artists make a much striking picture before or after they pose, because that's the precise moment when they reveal their true personalities, their souls.

September 14, 2007

Spanish Paintings in Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Collage

Spanish Paintings in Las Ramblas, Barcelona: Collage [enlarge]

Here is a collage of Spanish paintings about topics such as bullfighting and flamenco plus some everyday scenes of Barri Gotic or El Raval streets, two quarters nearby Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Paintings like these are frequently ignored by Barcelonians and I guess this happens in other cities like say Paris, London...,but they obviously trap tourists like ants on a sugar lump. I don't say it isn't art but they are mostly centered on cliches and contribute to enhance them. When we visit Paris or London they do the same to us and we bite on the bait! Come to think of it I would do the same if I were to paint for money. So this is not the artist's fault, it is the cultural authorities' responsibility to promote a more representative art without forgetting, and I stress this, the cliches which are also part, in this case, of Spanish culture.

September 13, 2007

Seasoned Human Statue Sitting in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Profile of seasoned human statue in Las Ramblas

Yet another street artist or human statue I captured while walking down Las Ramblas towards the sea. The weathered man was sitting on this chair showing off his painted clothes and glasses while he read a book. I couldn't really tell if he was sleeping or watching you drop a coin on the can cause his eyes were hidden behind a thin orange coat of paint in the middle of the spectacles. The whole disguise made him look elegant, like some famous writer, maybe he was some sort of Kafka. He wouldn't say being a statue and all.
Web Analytics