Urban Xcape, the urban art festival that you cannot miss this weekend
On March 8 the sky of Madrid looked gray, while the asphalt was dyed purple. On the same day, a group of artists, journalists, skaters and curators stroll through a abandoned lot on Bravo Murillo street putting the finishing touches to the exceptional meeting that takes place this weekend (March 10 and 11).
Is about Urban Xcape , the appointment that celebrates the Madrid urban culture developed by BMW Spain and whose location contains an interesting peculiarity: once the event is over, the Bravo Murillo 83 space will close its doors for good to be demolished.
With the motto 'Dare to everything', the event brings together interventions by street artists –Pantone, Aryz and Pichiavo, El Niño de las Pinturas, Kenor and Musa71–, outdoor concerts national label – Aurora & The Betrayers, Maga, LA–, DJ sessions – Luis Santos, Quique AV, DJ Ardiya–, free break dance and skate demos and delicacies at street level around a patio food trucks.
About to start this suggestive program, we met with two of the women who give meaning to this call: the curator of Urban Xcape, Anna Dimitrova, and the reference artist of street art in Spain, Musa71, both pioneers in these battles of urban art and newcomers from Barcelona.
Anna Dimitrova, curator of Urban Xcape and Musa71, a pioneering artist in the field of urban art
Born in Bulgaria and resident in Barcelona since 1996, Anna Dimitrova is under all, curator specializing in urban art.
Her vocation came unexpectedly: “I was dedicated to communication. In 2003 we made an event of several disciplines, and an era of urban art and graffiti. From the beginning he transmitted something very powerful to me. Later I learned that it was freedom. something almost wild . It was very seductive. I started working with street art artists and until today”.
In 2007, she founded Nobulus , the arts project company behind 50 exhibitions around the world, and in 2010 she began directing Montana Gallery , the first gallery in Spain specialized in graffiti and urban art.
Five years later, she embarks on the project of Adda Gallery , a traveling contemporary urban art gallery.
“Montana Gallery is a key space. It is the gateway to the art market for many creators who start out on the streets.
Adda Gallery emerges as a traveling gallery. The idea arose from the desire of many artists to leave Barcelona and this itinerant space without geographical limits It is consistent with the aspirations of urban art”.
Dimitrova, who has lived in several countries, maintains: “ Traveling is essential as a life experience. On an artistic level, when you travel – Mexico, Japan, Germany, Morocco, Argentina, Sweden – you realize that, regardless of the particularities, there is a common thread. Traveling allows you to know the basis of art and identify what artists want to convey”.
"From the beginning, street art transmitted something very powerful to me. Later I knew it was freedom" Anna Dimitrova
For your part muse71 (He also responds to María) It has been almost 30 years of her life intervening the streets of the world with her typographical references. Born in Barcelona, this artist fascinated by graffiti since 1989 proclaims herself free and self-taught:
“I have been doing this for a long time, but I still remember the feeling I had the first time I painted in the street. It was powerful, like real control. The streets of Barcelona in the 90s were perhaps more violent, or perhaps we were more innocent. The truth is that today we are more women and this has only just begun. You have to be aware of something: the street is not an easy place. It requires tenacity and being ‘brava’”
And why the use of letters? "As for what I do, My inspiration comes from the most traditional graffiti in the United States. I have always loved typography. I think it is more inaccessible. The figuration is more understandable. The lyrics are usually not liked. I like that complexity.”
The artist does not conceive the process of creation outside the knowledge of the world: “Any trip can change your life. It all depends on your absorption and integration capacity. Traveling opens my eyes.
"I still remember the feeling I had the first time I painted in the street. It was powerful, like real control" Musa71
THE ART OF FEMINISM
Today is March 8 and we are three women talking about art and feminism, but, above all, we are working. Is this a dilemma or a way to claim the place of women in predominantly male environments?
muse71 : Feminism is a day to day struggle. It is good to have a designated date, but if it is not supported by that daily work, it remains in the anecdote.
Feminism (smiles) is strong in women like Anna (who has just demanded silence from some technicians doing sound checks).
Let's see, now I am talking about feminism for a communication medium. This is more important than staying home quietly. And, furthermore, today I am going to intervene a wall that honors the women of the Second Republic (feminists, suffragettes...).
Once the event is over, the space of Bravo Murillo 83 will close its doors permanently to be demolished
Anna: Feminism is being here, doing what we want and what we like. The dilemma is not so dilemma since we are talking to you and giving women a voice with our experiences. And so things will permeate and change.
Many of us have two jobs, children, a partner, a house... and we can handle everything. Yes. But It's time to ask yourself, what's going on?
I don't know if you watch cartoons. Before, it was the prince who saved the princess and now it is the princesses who tell the man: "Hey, get out of here, I'll do it." And it seems fine to me. This is the reality. What I avoid is being a victim.
Musa71: Effectively. Y having a women's day seems to me to stay in the detail.
Anna: The worst thing is that they use it to sell underwear (and this is real): 'Buy a bra and we'll give you another for Women's Day'. Sorry? It's stupid.
Musa71 intervening a wall
Throughout your career, what obstacles have you encountered because you are women? Have they been subtle gestures or deliberately cheeky?
Anna: I have not felt that confrontation blatantly. In my case, I have almost always had the doors open. I have an anecdote in Morocco: I was explaining a project to a man, while he avoided talking to me.
I finally told him: “Hey, the project is mine. If you need answers, contact me." . Later, with things explained, he accepted it. I think it is important to convey strength and security. They have to accept it, period.
Musa71: In my case, at first it was more obvious. Perhaps what I have perceived the most has been paternalism: “Don't come here, this is dangerous”. Well, I'll have to choose that myself, don't you think?
Sometimes I have noticed something more subtle... But you have to be blunt. Especially when smiles are mistaken for flirtation. Some things must be made clear, such as that a woman can be kind without being confused with another attitude.
"Feminism is being here, doing what we want and what we like" Anna
Regarding the salary gap in your sector, is it reflected, for example, in the cache of artists?
Anna: Yes, I always see it. Much remains to be done in this regard. It so happens that it is not customary to speak in public about salary.
In my gallery, everyone is paid according to their worth. This is obvious to us, but we know that it doesn't happen at all. What has happened to me on many occasions is that the man demands: “If you don't pay me that much, I won't go”. And women in this aspect are more flexible, more conciliatory.
Musa71: I have to say that the company where I work (Montana Gallery) has never differentiated between one and the other based on gender. (Perhaps because it is in the hands of a woman?).
“Feminism is a struggle every day of the year” Musa71
In your opinion, what does the feminist challenge consist of? At what point can we sit quietly and enjoy the victory?
Musa71: I think there is an important part: collaboration of men. My feeling is that, perhaps as with social movements, feminism is not a one-way discourse. Feminism is many feminisms.
There are some principles that unite us (non-violence, equal pay...) but in the end it is not so much a gender movement, as a class struggle.
Anna: Women will be free when they really believe it and feel it. And this happens for him The education of men from childhood.
There has to be a fundamental work of parents, of schools, of society for this to finally happen. And be a reality for us.
Musa71: It also goes through a revision of the canon of beauty. The message that constantly reaches us is that of 'do this and that to be beautiful'.
Anna: The problem is believing that with beauty you get what you want. And it is not like that, because it is ephemeral. That does us all a disservice.
"Urban art is powerful and seductive because it conveys freedom" Anna Dimitrova
Barcelona has been one step ahead in urban art, parallel to what has been happening in Berlin, London... And Madrid, is this a city committed to street art?
Musa71: I think the place and the initiative are impressive. I wish this type of opportunity would also come from public cultural initiatives, and not only from private ones.
Anna: The truth is that, thanks to the patronage of some brands, an event like Urban Xcape is possible. Without these 21st century patrons, the chances would be less than half.
Madrid has great initiatives like this one. And I think more could be done if they realized the potential of urban art, as a cultural attraction, and the incredible artists that this city has.
Anna and Musa71, the queens of urban art