Wall Illustrators in Madrid

Abstract

Urban art has become more present in our cities, in terms of the number in quantity of surfaces, when travelling from the periphery to the center. It has gone from a pursued expression to one assimilated by its population and even taken advantage by the latter for its own profit, as much by shopkeepers in their window blinds as the attempts of regeneration of rough neighborhoods like the Triball initiative for the rear side of Gran Via. Urban art has also showed the diverse aspects in wich it can be expanded. Many of them can no longer be embraced under the 'graffiti' term. At the same time, encouraged by the pop surrealism, the prominent role of graphic dessign in advertising and the publishing's investment in star illustrators, the world of illustration has acquired a higher value within cultural and artistic circles. Illustration counts on more art centers and museums dedicated to its safeguarding and spreading. There are also initiatives as MSAP (Madrid Street Art Projet) that contribute to raising the art public's awareness of its value. This paper is focused on tha analysis of urban art that must be considered within the illustration field tha t has been produced in Madrid by Roa, Rallito-X, Jorge Rodríguez Gerada, 3ttman, Remed, ElTono, Sakristan, el colectivo E1000ink, Albersmalatesta, Boamistura and Alice Pasquini. It seeks to examine in depth the urban art made by the madrilenian illustrator Santiago Morilla, who resides in Madrid at least during the six months that he doen't live in Rome, and the urban art contributed by guest and regular illustrators like Blu or Sam3.