Pelado has been painting the largest mural in Buenos Aires and what is thought to be the biggest created by a single artist in Argentina. The giant artwork measuring 1,300 m2 in Barracas by the banks of the Riachuelo river is called ‘The Return of Quinquela’ (‘El Regreso de Quinquela’) and features a portrait of the Argentine painter Benito Quinquela Martin as its centrepiece.
Mural features a huge portrait of Quinquela holding a spatula
The mural measures 100 metres long by 13 metres high and the project was organised by Buenos Aires City Government as part of a social housing project where dozens of families who were living in perilous conditions in a settlement on the banks of the Riachuelo river have been given a new home.
Hang time
The project has taken around two months with Pelado predominantly using aerosols and a crane to paint the huge artwork.
Face of a mermaid
Alfredo Segatori nicknamed ‘Pelado’ in front of the spectacular mural
The theme of the mural reflects the history of the zone and people who live in the area
A cut above
Pelado’s artwork is inspired by the paintings of Quinquela (1890-1977) who depicted everyday scenes in and around the docks of Buenos Aires with landscapes featuring factories, boats and workers. The scenes above and below are taken from Quinquela’s well known painting ‘El Ordenanza de Aduana’ (‘Customs Ordinance’).
Docks of Buenos Aires similar to the scenes depicted in Quinquela’s paintings
Setting sail
The mural also includes portraits of kids, families and pets who live in the dwellings by the Riachuelo river.
Real life charactersNew public square named Plaza la Orden de Tornillo was inaugurated on Saturday
Changing landscape
Mural also features a mermaid and a boat
The mural by Pelado on the banks of the Riachuelo river