Nuevo Mundo: Latin American Street Art - Hardcover

Maximiliano Ruiz

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3899553373 ISBN 13: 9783899553376

Publisher: Die Gestalten Verlag, 2011

Synopsis

One could argue that today s most innovative street artists come from Latin America. The unique visual styles of Os Gêmeos, Bastardilla, Vitché, Saner, Jorge Rodriguez Gerada, and others are not only highly respected in the international art scene, but their work has also been exhibited at renowned museums including the Tate Modern and Fondation Cartier. Nuevo Mundo is the first book to provide a comprehensive documentation of current street art in Latin America by exploring the full spectrum of regional scenes in their impressive diversity. The book is structured into chapters that introduce work from Argentina, Brazil, Central America, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Nuevo Mundo features not only established artists from Latin America, but also promising new talents. In addition to inspiring images, the book s informed texts describe the history and context of the region as a whole and also give insight into each scene. The explosive mixture of indigenous cultures, local folklore, and the history of European colonization has created a unique visual style. The high regard in which these young street artists are now held around the world is a sign of the new self-confidence of an entire continent.

About this title

Review:

It s not surprising that in a continent that has such a long-standing and strong heritage of cartooning as South America there is also a thriving street art scene. The drawing skills, sense of satire and comedy, and just the plain desire to challenge authority seen in the animation industry seems perfectly transferable to graffiti, which has been used in the continent to cheaply and quickly express feelings about everything from military dictatorships to football. New book Nuevo Mundo: Latin American Street Art, which is published by Gestalten this month, documents the key practitioners of the art form, separated into country or region. The title translates as New World , and appropriately the book attempts to outline how the Latin American street art scene differs from old world Europe, and how it reflects - and shapes - the continent s visual identity. The book s editor Maximilano Ruiz says, Street art has always been a very important weapon in every social and political event or revolution in Latin America, either as a too to reclaim an urban culture of tribe, or as a strong and powerful means for airing political and social grievances. Ruiz argues that the growth of street art also has a connection to the tolerance of local people to the art form, the relaxed attitude of police to graffiti, and the warm climate that is kind to the preservation of outdoor art. Ruiz says, However, not all forms of street art are equally appreciated. Pixacao, for example, a form of tagging native to Brazil, consisting of large hand-painted letters and made by hundreds of gangs has covered countless buildings, wall and cities and is considered by many Brazilians to be a virus or disease that destroys the image of their country. The book contains spreads dedicated to the cute animals of San Paolo-based Onesto, the graphic surreal figures of Medo, and the angular mythical beasts by Vitchi - all of which are heavily focused around character design. Ruiz says, The artists large indigenous and folk influences also form one of their most important ingredients. The incorporation of different cultures into their art - be it through the use of icons, traditions, dances, and costumes or indigenous painting styles and various techniques of prints and graphics - is unique in the creation of cultural identity. --Design Week Blog

About the Author:

Maximiliano Ruiz has explored for years the subject of Latin American street art as author, curator, and film director. Previously based in Buenos Aires, he now works from Barcelona.

About this edition

• Publisher: Die Gestalten Verlag
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 3899553373
• ISBN 13: 9783899553376
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: Maximiliano Ruiz