Street artists in San Miguel de Tucuman in the north of Argentina have been brightening up the city by painting artworks over the ugly political propaganda that has become an eyesore in the last few years. Photos by BA Street Art.
Mural painted by Fabro in Barrio Sur (photo © BA Street Art)
Signal box previously covered with political propaganda, now painted with artworks by Cuore, Ruido & Coche (photo © BA Street Art)
Signal box painted by Cuore, Coche & Ruido (photo © BA Street Art)
Collaboration between Mario Graff & Coche (photo © BA Street Art)
Coche is one of the best known street artists in Tucuman. Well known for his fun cartoon characters & often paints with another artists including Vero Corrales and Mario Graff.
Mural by Coche in Barrio Sur (photo © BA Street Art)
“Que calor bro!” Collaboration between Fabro, Coche & Cof (photo © BA Street Art)
This collaboration between Fabro, Coche and Cof with the phrase: “Que calor!” with it being common in Tucuman in the summer to have temperatures of more than 40 degrees centigrade.
Cartoon character by Coche (photo © BA Street Art)
Mural with Coche & friends on Av Sarmiento (photo © BA Street Art)
Coche, Ruido & Cuore in Barrio Sur (photo © BA Street Art)
Political propaganda in San Miguel de Tucuman (photo © BA Street Art)
All over the city of San Miguel de Tucuman, it’s common to see the walls painted with the names of governors Juan Manzur and Osvaldo Jaldo or even the Argentine president Alberto Fernandez or vice-president Cristina Kirchner – just like in Cuba.
Names of Alberto Fernandez & Cristina Kirchner painted on walls in Tucuman (photo © BA Street Art)
Normally painting the walls of a private property or public building without the permission of the owner or city government would be illegal. But in Tucuman, when the ruling party is the one authorising the political propaganda, elections are fast approaching, and while it’s cheaper to paint a wall white with the name of a political party or candidate than paying for an advertising billboard or poster campaign, do you think they care about making the city look like Havana or Caracas? It’s not even a consideration. And to make matters worse, political leaders in Tucuman actually use tax-payers money to pay for the paint that is ruining the fronts of walls and buildings.
Political propaganda (covered over (photo © BA Street Art)
This artwork above has been painted over the names of Alberto Fernandez, Cristina Kirchner with the name of governor Juan Manzur crossed out by local artist Ruido.
Covid
Covid-related murals in Tucuman by Ruido (photo © BA Street Art)
Girl with face mask (photo © BA Street Art)
Government totalitarian measures in Argentina in 2020 – imposing the world’s longest quarantine – made life miserable for many people including members of the art community. And some street artists, including Ruido, took to the streets of Tucuman to paint murals relating to the pandemic and enforced mask-wearing.
Paste-ups
Paste-ups can also be found around the city centre in San Miguel de Tucuman. This paste-up by Colapso collective relates to control and manipulation of information and data by mainstream media and says: ‘Look check. You don’t read, you don’t check stats, you don’t think.’
Paste-up by Colapso collective relating to propaganda on TV and mainstream media (photo © BA Street Art)
Paste up collage in Microcentro by Colapso collective with messages: “Give up all your powers daily” and “Rabbit season” (photo © BA Street Art)
Graffiti
Cisma crew in a square off Yerba Buena off Av Aconquija in Yerba Buena (photo © BA Street Art)
Bigs crew (photo © BA Street Art)
TMY crew (photo © BA Street Art)
All photos © Buenos Aires Street Art
