Street art hit the Social Forum will full force on Tuesday 16^th. As well as encountering the artists El Xupet Negre, Dase y Vinz Feel Free under the name of Urban art, there was also a blank wall just outside the tent that was left to the hands of Dase to fill with colour.

Urban art is not only a way of life, but also a recognition of the capacity to communicate messages in a powerful way. Each of the artists set out their own unique vision for urban art and their own artwork. Much more complete than a simple piece of graffiti in the street, urban art has certainly become an important part of the art world, as  Vinz joked: “These days, artists talk about money and banks talk about art“.

“Nowadays they have art on the doorstep“, affirmed El Xupet Negre,”…they can see your process, it’s like writing a musical score”. In this way, people from all walks of life are being familiarised with street art. The exact same thing gives the discipline it’s key characteristics: it’s fragility and direct impact on the streets and the fundamental role to get more viewers, namely the public. “The only rule is the street and the point is to interrupt society with transgressions”, explained Vinz, relating the nature of urban art with his own work. There has also been time to address other issues, such as the relationship between urban art and the world of advertising, facing the possible commercialisation of art, which Dase has termed a “natural process”, as well as how it relates to the internet.

Welcome to to the streets, to this living museum.

While Dase started to give form to the mural, Javier Andaluz Prieto(Ecologists in Action), Sara Pizzinato(Greenpeace Spain) y Marianne Thieme(Animal Rights Party) warned us about climate change, with respect to cows and oil. It was a totally open debate between the speakers and the public, who discussed the causes and disastrous consequences of climate change from different perspectives, including how we can fight against it. Alongside these things, they also discussed other issues like changes in energy policies and the current state of renewable energy, among others. “The time to act to solve these problems is running out faster and faster”, warned Javier Andaluz.