Swine flu graffiti & pig stencils in Buenos Aires

It’s winter in Buenos Aires and with the cold weather there’s no shortage of flu and common colds doing the rounds. A state of health emergency was declared in Greater Buenos Aires this time two years ago; and from April to July 24, 2009, there were more than 200 recorded deaths in Argentina due to the virus known as ‘gripe A’ or HIN1. The pandemic also led to a wave of graffiti depicting ‘la gripe porcina’ and the H1N1 virus, and pigs are still popping up around  BA.

Don’t stop the prevention (photo © BA Street Art)

Stencil in Parque Chas (photo © BA Street Art)

Porcina power by Grolou and Doez (photo © BA Street Art)

Freaks by Grolou (photo © BA Street Art)

Another Freaks pig design by Grolou (photo © BA Street Art)

Design by Grolou and Gumy in Quilmes (photo © BA Street Art)

The word ‘porcino’ meaning ‘swine’ has even been used in political stencil graffiti to mock the Pro party leader and mayor Mauricio Macri ahead of this year’s elections. The above stencil also has a yellow background that’s common on city government signs together with the slogan ‘Haciendo Buenos Aires’.