Walking around the city here, I see graffiti all the time. I used to view graffiti as the works of talentless youngsters trying to make a mess, and little more. Over the years, though, I’ve seen a few exceptionally interesting pieces, like this house in Lisbon, Portugal. Its made me realize that there’s a big difference between the mere act of spray painting something, and actual street art. Created by street artists Os Gémeos and Blu, this massive collaboration moves past the mere act of tagging, and actually carries a message.
As you’ll see in the photos below, the massive mural covers the entirety of a building in Lisbon. If you happen to live in the area, you can go and enjoy this in person by stepping just outside of the Picoas Metro Station.
Os Gémeos + Blu – Street art in Lisbon
I’m not sure why this fellow is using Mr. White as a slingshot, but between the vibrant colours and the awesome shading and shadows, this side of the mural is by far my favourite.
Here’s a more detailed shot of Mr. White. He looks a lot like a business person or banker to me, and he certainly doesn’t look very happy here. I suppose I wouldn’t want to be used as a human slingshot either.
The other side of the building, and the final shot in this article, is of a giant corporate fat-cat sucking the life out of the planet, or perhaps more specifically oil. Inlaid into his giant crown are a number of logos from prominent fuel companies like Esso and Shell. Though I find this character less visually appealing, I’m glad the artist decided to paint about such an important topic.
To see more Os Gemeos + Blu, head over to UNURTH, an excellent street art site. You’ll also find more information about Os Gemeos on the official Os Gemeos blog.
cool!