Barcelona Photoblog

September 06, 2009

Street Art in Barri Gotic, Barcelona

Street Art in Barri Gotic, Barcelona [enlarge]

Here's another sample of street art permanently exhibited for free, for everyone to see, spontaneous and refreshing, located in the narrow alleys of Barri Gotic. Each of you will interpret this artwork differently of course. I find there's a great contrast between the African and the white western world woman. The blond girl's nose is dripping something green, that maybe it is just what it is or maybe means she's crying, feeling sympathetic towards the poor for humanitarian reasons but with that stuck up, phony attitude of the rich when donating to the cause, with the sole intention of saving their soul or cleaning up their filthy conscience. I think the green snot and the big M in her mouth represent money. But then again that's just the way I see it and of course kind people there are everywhere, even in upper echelons of society.

September 05, 2009

Bar Papitu, La Boqueria Market, Barcelona

Bar Papitu, La Boqueria Market, Barcelona [enlarge]

From the strategically located terrace of Bar Papitu on Passatge de la Virreina 1 on a lateral corridor at La Boqueria you can witness the constant flow of visitors to the famous market near La Rambla. According to many they serve good tapas so why not take a rest there after the always difficult walk through the crammed packed market premises. This barrel in the picture really caught my attention, specially the red letters advertising the place. Papitu was the name of a renown humor publication in Catalonia from 1908 to 1937. It had a clear leftist orientation opposite to their conservative rival magazine called Patufet closely connected to the church. Papitu played an important role in the history of satirical publications in Barcelona, specially during an initial moderate period conditioned by the censorship of Primo de Rivera. Right after the dictator's resignation in 1930, Papitu became more irreverent, particularly with regards to the clergy and spicy, naughty, if you know what I mean, in the sense that they use double meaning jokes and symbolic sensual illustrations. But let's not forget my post was basically about the bar. Here is Bar Papitu on Myspace and on a Google map.

September 04, 2009

Bobbin Lace: Pins

 [enlarge]

Here is a detail of a bobbin lace pillow with a tacked pattern. Pins will hold the wooden bobbins in place while they twist and cross the yarn that will produce the final lacework. The image was captured during a small exhibition near Barcelona cathedral last August. By the way, this reporter-photographer-to-be, as you can see, is back from holidays to keep you posted about Barcelona as usual. I had a wonderful time in the Caribbean, in Cuba to be more precise. In coming days I will upload the pictures I took there to my Flickr account and leave a link here in Barcelona Photoblog.

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