Pelado has been painting the largest mural in Argentina and what is thought to be the biggest mural in the world created by a single artist. Exclusive photos and story by Buenos Aires Street Art.
Mural features a huge portrait of Quinquela holding a spatula (photo © BA Street Art)
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.
Hang time (photo © BA Street Art)
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.
Face of a mermaid (photo © BA Street Art)
The project has taken around two months to complete with Pelado predominantly using aerosols and a crane to paint the huge artwork over a much longer time frame.
Alfredo Segatori nicknamed ‘Pelado’ in front of his spectacular mural (photo © BA Street Art)
Segatori is one of the best known muralists in Argentina know for his large scale portraits featuring tango legends, footballing heroes, as well as everyday people and typical porteño scenes.
Reflections (photo © BA Street Art)
The theme of the mural reflects the history of the zone and people who live in the area.
A cut above (photo © BA Street Art)
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 (photo © BA Street Art)
Setting sail (photo © BA Street Art)
The mural also includes portraits of kids, families and pets who live in the dwellings by the Riachuelo river.
Real life characters (photo © BA Street Art)
New public square named Plaza la Orden de Tornillo was inaugurated on Saturday (photo © BA Street Art)
Mural also features a mermaid and a boat (photo © BA Street Art)
Mural also features a mermaid and a boat (photo © BA Street Art)
The mural by Pelado on the banks of the Riachuelo river (photo © BA Street Art)
