A mural is a representation of an image, usually on a wall or wall. For centuries murals were found in churches, although in prehistoric times men drew all kinds of images on stones, usually related to everyday life. Despite the long tradition in the history of art, muralism today is basically manifested in urban space, where artistic images of different themes are represented. City walls are the setting for this form of artistic expression.
Street performers
The walls of cities are usually gray and with little color. The creators who dedicate themselves to muralism turn the gray of the walls into an explosion of color. The images can be mere entertainment or, on the contrary, have some kind of social and vindictive message.
In general, the art of muralism has a transgressive and provocative ingredient. In this sense, many of his images have a political content, as can be seen in the streets of Caracas, Belfast, Buenos Aires or Mexico D. F.
Muralism and graffiti are two closely related artistic expressions. Both are forms of art with an evident social commitment and therefore it is common to find murals and graffiti in degraded urban spaces. It should be remembered that graffiti was born in the 1970s in the Bronx, a New York neighborhood where conflict situations have historically been experienced. Despite the similarities between graffiti and muralism, they are two different manifestations. The first uses intense colors and a street language, while the second has a decorative intention and a didactic function.
Mexican muralism
In 1910 there was an armed conflict in Mexico that has gone down in history as the Mexican Revolution. Since then some artists started the muralist tradition. The language of muralism was intended to connect with the national reality.
One of the most prominent creators was the painter Diego Rivera. His murals had a clear revolutionary component, since they were intended to educate and raise awareness among the population. The topics that Diego Rivera addresses are popular, but they deal with political and social issues.
Diego Rivera's first mural was painted in 1922 at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City, and its title is "The Creation." The subject dealt with is the origin of the sciences and the arts and with this work its creator intended to inspire a feeling of proximity to art as a transforming element of society.
Photos: Fotolia - Iejamsaleh / Lucy
